Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Beyond the Pink
Every October, the world turns pink. Pink water bottles. Pink ribbons. Pink sneakers. Pink cereal boxes.
And while it might seem uplifting at first glance, here’s the truth: I hate pink merch.
As a breast cancer survivor, I’ve seen how much of it is just marketing. It’s pink washing—a feel-good campaign that makes companies look supportive while doing very little to actually help. Too often, only pennies on the dollar go to research or programs that truly impact patients and families.
Let’s be honest: women facing breast cancer don’t need more pink trinkets. We need resources, support, and hope.
My Journey and My Business
I started Sewing From The Hart years before I ever heard the words “you have cancer.” What began as a way to create memory bears, personalized gifts, and custom embroidery has always been about connection and care.
When I went through treatment, I didn’t stop creating—I stitched through the hard days and the hopeful ones. My business wasn’t started because of breast cancer, but surviving it gave me a new perspective on why handmade matters.
Now, every bear, every pillow, every tote carries not just thread and fabric, but love, resilience, and a story.
Where Bears Fit In
You might be wondering, “What do memory bears have to do with Breast Cancer Awareness Month?”
For me, they’re about real people and real stories.
When someone loses a loved one to cancer—or celebrates surviving their own fight—their clothing often carries memories that words can’t express. Turning a favorite shirt or robe into a memory bear transforms those emotions into something tangible, comforting, and lasting.
It’s not about pink. It’s about healing and honoring.
Making October Matter
If you want to make a difference this October, skip the mass-produced pink coffee cups and “awareness” socks. Here’s what really helps:
- Support survivor-owned businesses like mine, where your purchase has meaning.
- Donate directly to organizations funding real research or supporting families in treatment.
- Choose gifts with heart, like memory bears that bring comfort long after October ends.
Because awareness is good, but action changes lives.
Final Thoughts
October will always be a complicated month for me. It’s part celebration, part reflection, and part frustration at all the noise and pink washing.
Here at Sewing From The Hart, you’ll find items created with intention—not to fit a trend, but to truly connect with the people who receive them. Whether it’s a cozy hoodie, a handmade gift, or a bear stitched from a shirt that tells a story, my work is about love that lasts beyond a single month.
So this October, let’s make it about more than just pink. 💕