For all women: Gillian Horton's expert bra-fitting service helping women in need

In 2008, Gillian was diagnosed with breast cancer. Following chemotherapy and surgery, she noticed that lingerie shopping became nearly impossible.

She realised there was a gap in the market. No one was catering to women who have had surgeries or are otherwise not suited to traditionally shaped bras, lingerie or swimwear.

Ever the entrepreneur, Gillian, in 2014, took over a lingerie store in the ACT and brought her own brand of service to the store that inclusively caters to every woman of every body type.

Gillian is bringing her expert bra fitting services to Mudgee for a few days at the end of April and is encouraging anyone needing a bra fitted to book in.

Gillian started visiting the Dubbo region five years ago and quickly learned that there were no services available to women in the region post surgery.

"Many years ago I met a women's health nurse at a conference in Cowra. She said 'Look there's nothing in Cowra.' I'd never heard of Cowra," Gillian said.

"So when I took over the business that had stuck in my head and so I went to Cowra and from there I started a service to the area and then I looked a bit further afield and that's where I found Dubbo.

"I contacted breast care nurses there and I went to the breast cancer support group and I just showed them the range and explained what it was that I did. Since then I've been travelling to Dubbo and Cowra.

"I offer bra fitting services, I started off specialising for women after breast cancer. And this has grown to include front opening bras for people with injuries, support bras, large-cup bras.

"Basically sizes that are extremely difficult to find and also to be fitted for a bra which is extremely important."

Gillian's goal has always been to bring services like hers to regional areas, where she knows they can be lacking or non-existent. And in that time she said the feedback has been humbling.

"It's incredible, the difference that I see and the difference obviously that the women tell me, one in being fitted for a bra that makes them look 'normal', makes them feel normal it just goes an incredible way to for their recovery especially if they've just been diagnosed or they're still going through the treatment as well," she said.

"I also offer wigs and turbans. From diagnosis we take the women all the way through and beyond as well, so I have a lingerie store. So one of the things I really wanted to - so I had breast cancer in 2008 - and I really wanted to go shopping like I did before and I couldn't because every bra I went to try on [it wouldn't fit properly]."

Gillian spoke about her vision behind her lingerie store she has now run in the ACT for six years.

"So I opened a lingerie store that when you walk in, looks like a normal lingerie store, but everything in the store has a pocket if you need it or a suitable who's had any kind of breast surgery - whether that's reconstruction or mastectomy. And I also do swimwear and activewear," she said.

"And so that was a vision that's kind been brought to life for me, which has been really exciting. And I really just wanted to take that to the regional areas. To take part of what I was doing in Canberra to women who really don't have the service."

When Gillian comes to Mudgee she will be set up at the Perfectly Sorted co-working space Perfectly Zoned on Lion's Drive.

"I'll set up at Perfectly Sorted and offer fittings for the time that I'm here. I also fit women who have intellectual disabilities or physical disabilities - any women that would like to be fitted for a bra and so we make appointments and then I try and fit everything in my car," Gillian laughed.

Perfectly Sorted founder, Ali Broinowski said she's thrilled to be hosting Gillian for her time here.

"Fittings are for anyone," she said.

"We don't have specialist fitters, in years gone there was always a shop here, she's not here anymore, so you've even got teenagers, horse riders, sportspeople who can all benefit from it.

"It's not scary. It doesn't have to be overwhelming and scary."

Gillian will be in Mudgee from April 30 to May 2. Thursday to Saturday.

To book, contact Perfectly Sorted on 6372 0050 or email meg@perfectlysorted.com.au

Gillian is also a Telstra Women's Business Award finalist for the ACT. The awards will be held on March 10.