The girl lost her sight, but this did not stop her from becoming a stylist (4 photos)

Tilly Dowler, from Castle Donington, Derbyshire, was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a rare genetic disorder that causes loss of central vision, at the age of 15. She refuses to let her disability stop her from achieving her goals. She believes that you can achieve anything you dream of in life.





Symptoms usually appear before the age of 20. People with the condition do not lose their peripheral vision.

“I was told I was going blind. It would have been hard to accept at any age, but at 15, when I was just starting out in life, it was especially hard to process,” Tilly told Vista, a sight-health charity.

“I always dreamed of being a teacher, and that future I had envisioned for myself was gone in an instant.”

Tilly didn’t want her disability to stop her from pursuing her dreams. She started university, but was forced to give up her studies when her vision deteriorated so much that she could no longer see children’s faces.

She lost her job during the pandemic, which prompted her to volunteer at a charity shop. It was there that she discovered her passion for clothes with a story.



Tilly Dowler (left) and Victoria Whittington-Parry

Despite her health problems, Tilly was full of ambition and dreamed of working in the fashion industry. In 2023, when she was just 24, she opened Wanted Wardrobe with her friend Victoria Whittington-Parry.





“When you are told that you are losing your sight and may one day go blind, it is the most terrible feeling. However, I believe that this is only a temporary test. Once you realize this, the fear will subside, and you will be able to realize everything you want in life,” says the British woman.

“Now I am officially recognized as blind, but I still have peripheral vision. I don’t know how long this will last, but I try to enjoy every day and get great pleasure from it.”

Her shop donates 10% of its profits to charities that support people with vision problems.

Tilly, 26, and Victoria, 38, offer a unique service in their vintage clothing store: custom colour palettes.

The girl explained: “How can I determine which shades suit customers, given my vision? Victoria and I are a great team, and nothing can stop us.”

She can only see people’s outlines and shadows, but she has retained the ability to see colours at close range. With Victoria’s help, Tilly can realise her dream of helping people.



Each client undergoes a consultation, during which a suitable palette is selected. Victoria applies fabrics of different shades to the client's face to select the most complimentary ones. At each stage of the process, the stylist takes photographs, which Tilly carefully studies. She selects a palette taking into account the client's eye, hair and skin color.

She notes: “Once you determine a person's color type and understand which shades suit them better - warm or cool - you can create a full color palette that will emphasize their natural beauty. The right colors can lighten the complexion, make the eyes brighter and even slightly rejuvenate.”

The shop owners completed a three-day intensive colour typing course in London, giving them the skills they need to carry out the service, which usually costs £75.

The training was made possible by a £4,700 grant from the Sir Thomas White Charitable Trust, which also helped Tilly and Victoria's business move to a new building on Borough Street, Castle Donington.

Since opening the shop in 2023, Dowler has made headlines, appearing on a popular BBC show and hosting a charity event with Paralympic sprinter Libby Clegg.