I’ve been working on a mega project for the last few weeks…
Here at Imogen’s Imagination, I will be donating over 200 hair accessories to The Little Princess Trust – a charity that provides free real hair wigs to children and young people who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment or other conditions.
The items I’m donating have been discontinued and sitting on my shelves for years. Many of them can’t be repurposed and I can’t just put them in the bin… so I wanted to give them away to an appropriate cause.
I reached out to The Little Princess Trust because their goals align with my business and my products – there’s no denying that I sell girl products! And my ethos has always been that I want people to look and feel great when they wear my designs… and this is exactly what the charity does with their wigs, too.
If you’re not familiar with me or my journey with Imogen’s Imagination, let’s rewind a bit…
The Beginnings of Imogen’s Imagination
Imogen’s Imagination was born from a love of dressing up! Back in the 2000s, I frequented a local burlesque night with my friends, where the whole audience would come dressed to the nines—headwear always being the perfect finishing touch. I’ve always loved sewing, a skill I learned from my mum and grandma, so I started making mini top hats for myself and my friends.
These little creations were a hit, and before I knew it, I was stocking a local boutique, and Imogen’s Imagination was born! When I was thinking up names for the business, “Imogen” immediately came to mind, because of one senior at my dance school named Imogen. She had dreads, so not your typical ballet dancer, and in my 12-year-old eyes, she just oozed cool!
Adult me has never met a nasty Imogen and I liked the alliteration, so Imogen’s Imagination was born! “Imogen” has since morphed into my ballsy alter ego for doing stuff that scaredy-cat Sophie isn’t quite up for!
As the years went by, I’ve been lucky enough to create a variety of hats and hair accessories, from classic elegance to everyday pieces. It’s something I love doing every single day.
A Tribute to My Friend Kerry
But for me, it’s not all about fashion. In 2007, I lost my beautiful, glorious friend Kerry to a brain tumour. She was my best mate from school, and the scrapes we got into were legendary. Kez was an incredible person: fiercely loyal, strong, and determined.
When Kerry was diagnosed with a brain tumour, she fought with everything she had, in true Kez style. Losing her hair during chemotherapy, had a profound effect on Kerry’s confidence and self-esteem at the time. It was something completely beyond her control – and if you knew Kez, you’d know why THAT was a particular problem! (This is a trait that we shared – so I totally got this!)
When Kerry got her first wig, everything changed. The “old” Kez was back and she was so excited to have red hair for the first time! It was a great quality wig, made with real hair, and I remember being amazed at how realistic it was.
Swapping between wigs also meant that Kerry could be ‘herself’ on her wedding day. The wig Kerry chose for this most special day was almost identical to her natural hair colour and original hairstyle, pre-treatment. Wearing her new hair long and loose, as she always did on a night out, Kerry was a beautiful bride.
Ultimately, on 4th March 2007, we lost Kerry – and I still miss her every day. There’s a part of “Imogen” that will always aspire to be more like Kez—fierce, driven, loving hard, while remaining tender. I often ask myself, “What would Kez do?” because I know she would always have had the guts to seize the day and push herself beyond what anyone thought possible.
Every year in March, Brain Tumour Awareness Month, I honour Kez’s memory by taking part in Wear A Hat Day to raise money, awareness, and bring hope to those affected by brain tumours.
The Little Princess Trust – Hair and Hope
The Little Princess Trust ties in nicely with my mission to honour Kerry, as they provide free real hair wigs to children and young people up to the age of 24 who have lost their hair through cancer treatment or other medical conditions.
The Trust works closely with accredited wig fitters, ensuring that recipients never have to travel far for a fitting. They understand that these children and young people are already facing so many challenges, so they make the process of requesting a wig as easy as possible and – most importantly – entirely for free.
Their work doesn’t stop at wigs. The Little Princess Trust has been funding vital research into paediatric cancers since 2016. They’ve provided grants totalling £30 million to 134 research projects to date, all working towards developing less aggressive, less toxic treatments for childhood cancers.
Their vision is clear: to give Hair and Hope to every young person facing cancer, until the day there is no longer a need for their services.
Why I’m Donating Hair Accessories
The hair accessories I’ll be donating – bow clips and headbands – are discontinued stock that has been sitting on my shelves for years. While they may no longer be part of my active collections, they’re still beautiful and deserve to be worn. Rather than let them go to waste, I wanted to ensure they went to an appropriate cause.
We’ve all had the pain of a “bad hair day” – but the thought of a “no hair day” is unimaginable to me. It’s called “a crowning glory” for a reason and hair is such an intrinsic part of our own identity and personality. It has such a huge impact on our perception of our self-worth and confidence, regardless of age or levels of emotional resilience.
The Little Princess Trust sends out thousands of wigs annually, helping young people regain their confidence during a difficult time. As these hair accessories all work well with wigs, I thought it would be the perfect pairing… I love the idea that my accessories, which are designed to make people look and feel fabulous, can bring a little extra joy and excitement to those receiving wigs.
How You Can Help
As part of this effort, I’m also raising £200 to cover the costs of additional materials, packaging, and postage to ensure the full donation of items reaches The Little Princess Trust effortlessly. I’ll be donating my time to complete part-made stock, but I need some help to cover the rest.
To make it easy for anyone who’d like to contribute, I’ve set up a donation link on my website – tiered at £2.50, £5, and £10 – to help raise the necessary funds.
Or if you’re buying a hat, fascinator or hair accessory from my shop, you can add an optional £2.50 donation with your purchase.
I will also cover any transaction fees charged by my payment providers, meaning your full donation amount will make its way to The Little Princess Trust. Every little bit helps, and any funds raised beyond the required amount will be donated directly to the charity to help them with distribution costs.
Your generosity will allow me to cover these costs while ensuring the accessories are sent seamlessly!
Thank you to everyone who has supported Imogen’s Imagination over the years. With your help, we can bring a little more sparkle into the lives of these amazing young people.