Our Story

"The world his having a conversation about what bodies are supposed to look like - from body positivity to trans visibility. Proudly living in a post-mastectomy body is a part of that conversation too." - Lori Olcott, CEO and Designer

In June of 2019, I got the news that 1 in 8 women in America will hear - I had breast cancer. Fortunately, my tumor was small and contained; but due to its shape and location, my doctor and I decided that a unilateral mastectomy would be the best option for a quick and effective treatment.

One of the first things I did after my mastectomy decision was to do an internet search on "mastectomy swimwear". Literally every result was intended to hide and conceal the fact that a woman was a breast cancer survivor. "It's high on the sides to cover your scar," they touted, "and it has a pocket for your prosthesis!" There was nothing available for women who wanted to be open and authentic in their new bodies.

I decided to change that. Half-Flat is all about being transparent about the tough decisions we made and the fulfilling lives we are living post treatment. We don't need to pretend that everything is the same afterwards. Our bodies are different, but we are no less beautiful.

We are thrilled to offer exciting and flattering designs that let you proudly stand out as the warrior you are: brave, resilient, and gorgeous. These designs specifically highlight and accentuate the graceful asymmetry of a single-breasted body. Women are not defined by their breasts, and we don't need two of them to be whole, feminine, sexy, and happy.

Besides, you paid a lot for that chest tattoo. Don't you want to show it off?

Photography credit above: Will Mitchell

What are we made of?

We are a slow-fashion, small-batch, eco-conscious, human rights mindful, status quo breaking boutique. We want to make the world a better place, and so do our suppliers.

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All of our swim pieces are made from Vita PL by Carvico, an eco-sustainable fabric made from 100% regenerated polyester thread from pre- and post-consumer products. (We don't just resist fast fashion, we put it to a better use than a landfill or a sea turtle's stomach.) Vita PL offers loads of benefits, including:

  • Highly resistant to fading from chlorine or sunscreens - so go ahead and use your SPF 50 to protect your rads area
  • Protection from UV rays
  • Excellent coverage for modesty, but ultra thin and soft
  • Bi-elastic, so it stretches to move with you in all directions, but still retain it's shape
  • Pilling resistant, so your swim wear will last for many sunny seasons

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Our production team is Prototype, a swimwear design-to-showroom team that specializes in small-batch production lines. They vet all their factories for safe working conditions and fair labor practices. They promote environmental sustainability and water-wise practices along their entire production chain, so we can pass those assurances on to you, our models.

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Our studio photography was shot by Linnell Keeling. Linnell, a fellow breast cancer warrior and flattie, is the founder of Scars of Beauty. Through fun and sensitive photography, Scars of Beauty invites women who had mastectomies to reclaim their narrative, to find joy and pride in their bodies post-recovery, and to connect with a community that celebrates every scar as a testament to survival. We couldn’t agree more.

Shop our range

  • unilateral mastectomy swimwear bikini halter gold ring adobe brown

    Tops

    Swimwear tops for single-breasted women! Our bikinis and tankini have been specifically...

    Tops

  • Bottoms

    Mix and match our swimwear bottoms with your favorite Half-Flat tops!

    Bottoms

  • unilateral mastectomy swimwear one piece lattice pink black

    One Pieces

    Our One Piece swimwear is specifically designed for single-breasted women.  Pretty ruffles...

    One Pieces

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