Hobbyists Give Their Hat & Soul

Friends Elizabeth Brown and Sue Musgrave got together often to share their interests in sewing and hats. But after learning of a mutual friend’s cancer diagnosis and treatment, their lighthearted hobbies became something more: Hat & Soul, a mail-order company in Anaheim that understands the needs of women losing their hair because of chemotherapy.

The two spent a year experimenting with head coverings aimed at disguising hair loss.

Baseball caps didn’t cover the back of the neck. Conventional hats didn’t cover the sides of the head. Wigs were hot, itchy and expensive. Scarves were cumbersome and difficult to tie, especially when a person is not feeling well.

In designing their collection, Brown and Musgrave laid down some guidelines: They would concentrate on hats, the most versatile head covering. Each would need to fit low in the back and the sides of the head. It would be soft, lined for comfort and easy to put on. Each design would be offered in several fabrics to fit casual or dressy occasions and be able to be worn several ways to create new looks with the same hat.

Besides the practical functions, each hat comes with a worry doll, from the Guatemalan tradition in which you release your worry by “transferring” it the doll.

“The hats are uplifting to women,” Brown says. “One of our clients called to say she wore one to church and she got so many compliments that it was an ego boast. She looked good, and the attention made her feel great.”

Because most conventional hats are too big or too small, each hat is made to order ($42-$65). The company donates $1 to the American Cancer Society for each hat sold.

For a catalog, call (714) 991-4287.