How does it feel? Love and Nudes: The Stage Zero Collection highlights the importance of Breast Cancer Awareness

BY SYDNEE WALCOTT

Unfortunately, there is a disparity when it comes to the treatment of Black women for breast cancer, but with the help of others working together as a team, changes are being made to help put an end to this disparity.

Love and Nudes, founded by Chantal Carter, is a Canadian Black-owned brand created to address the gap in the market for nude lingerie that could accommodate Black women and their skin tone.

Carter became frustrated with the lack of nude products available for Black women and the lack of representation in fashion. So, she decided to take action and come up with a brand to address the issue.

To raise awareness on the importance of screening and detecting breast cancer at an early stage, Carter came out with a new line of lingerie under Love and Nudes: The Stage Zero Collection.

This collection features a prototype of bra inserts that simulate what breast cancer would look and feel like on darker skin tones.

The line debuted on February 4th, 2023 — also known as World Cancer Day — at Scarborough Town Centre.

During the event, people had the experience of knowing what cancer looks like by touching, feeling, and trying on the bras. Carter hopes this can lead to people empowering themselves and taking the appropriate steps to help themselves and their health.

The event was emotional as some attendees carry a personal connection to breast cancer. They also felt this needs to be out there to help women experience and educate themselves on breast cancer.

“You hear the description of what it should feel like and what it should look like, but you’re not 100%,” said Carter.

At first, Carter said the event was nerve-racking for her, as she didn’t know what kind of response to expect.

She was grateful to have a fantastic team in her corner to help her put the entire event together. She’s also thankful for the emotions the event evoked as it made her realize she had something that needed to be shared.

The creation of these inserts came into place to help Black women understand early detection signs of cancer, and the differences with how it manifests on white and dark skin.

The launch of Love and Nudes: The Zero Collection is not the only way Carter has been raising awareness of the impact of breast cancer on Black women. She has also created a petition on change.org calling for the government to lower the breast cancer screening age to 40.

“The response to the petition has been phenomenal,” said Carter.

The petition was created on January 18th, and currently stands at 1,561 out of 2,500 signatures.

Carter would like people to learn there is a way to add to the community through these petitions. People need to realize that it starts with them signing the petition and understand everyone has the power to create a change as a community by beginning with themselves.

“Always empower yourself with information and take steps to make a change if you don’t see one,” said Carter.

Carter would like her business to continue to help women be empowered in their skin and love who they are. Although she does not know what the future holds, she is looking to grow her business and the awareness of how Black women are disproportionately affected by breast cancer.