An innovative initiative by a Manchester Met fashion graduate will see stylish and sustainable stoma bag covers donated to hospitals across Greater Manchester to bring comfort and joy to patients recovering from surgery.
Ellie Brown, who graduated from BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Technology at Manchester Met’s Manchester Fashion Institute (MFI) in 2023, recently launched Covers that Care which aims to create vibrant, fun and stylish stoma covers using deadstock fabric from her adaptive clothing brand Recondition.
Patients recovering from stoma surgery at Manchester Royal Infirmary and The Royal Oldham Hospital have been gifted with the stylish stoma covers alongside an information booklet offering practical advice on living with a stoma including relationships, socialising and travel.
The initiative was developed in collaboration with fashion blogger and disability advocate Lucy Jane, who underwent ostomy surgery after being diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 2017, and lives with a stoma bag.
The covers can also be purchased from the Recondition website, where 10% of sales goes back into the initiative, alongside a ‘pay it forward’ option to help fund future donations.
Brown said: “The idea behind the scheme is to bring some hope and joy to patients at a time when they might be feeling scared and anxious about the life-changing surgery they’ve undergone and about what life will be like afterwards.
“It’s so rewarding to see our designs come to life and the feedback we’ve had from patients and staff has been so positive. We’re hoping our work will not only help raise awareness about ostomies but will also empower people living with stomas to feel confident again.”
Emma McKeon, Stoma Nurse at The Royal Oldham Hospital, said: “Adjusting to life with a stoma is a huge physical and emotional undertaking. While a stoma bag can be lifesaving, it doesn’t always feel like a natural part of a person. Stoma bag covers are a simple but effective way to bridge the gap between being a “patient” and being “yourself”.
“For many new ostomates, the visibility of the contents is the hardest part to get used to. Most stoma bags we use post operatively are transparent so healthcare professionals can monitor the stoma. The covers have helped to hide the contents from our patients’ views, and others’, which has reduced their self-consciousness.”
To mark the launch of Covers that Care, Recondition recently hosted a charity catwalk featuring models with disabilities, including those with stomas who showcased the stoma covers on the runway.
The event raised £1300 for the initiative and charity A Bear Named Buttony, which supports children after stoma surgery.
Brown was inspired to set up Recondition after breaking her ankle and using a wheelchair for several months during recovery – an experience which gave insight into the everyday challenges faced by people living with disabilities, including limited clothing choices.
Recondition creates fashionable and sustainable adaptive clothing for people living with disabilities, including their inclusive jeans which launched last year and were showcased at London Fashion Week.
Brown started developing the brand while studying for her degree at MFI, where she learned beneficial skills involved in the production of fashion products, and she also received a Santander Universities UK Entrepreneurial Award which supported her with establishing her business after graduating.
Barbara Shepherd, Reader in Fashion Business at Manchester Fashion Institute, said: “Through sustained dedication, strategic focus, and continuous engagement in networking and fundraising activities, Ellie has demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial commitment while advancing socially responsive design practice with her brand Recondition. This latest initiative is designed not only to meet functional needs but also to enhance dignity, confidence, and overall well-being among stoma patients across Greater Manchester.
“Ellie is an exemplary role model for Fashion Enterprise students at MFI, demonstrating the values and ambition we aim to cultivate in emerging fashion entrepreneurs. Her work illustrates the capacity of contemporary fashion education to cultivate graduates who combine commercial innovation with ethical awareness within the wider fashion and textile industry sector.”
