This topic is about a person who has been living with an ileostomy for three years and is not fond of the standard beige or clear pouches available. They wish for more colorful options like pink, purple, blue, or black and are curious if others feel the same way and if such options exist.

Here are some helpful insights and advice shared by others:

1. Bag covers as an immediate solution:
- You can sew your own covers using any fabric. Free patterns and tips are available at http://www.stomaatje.com/clothing.html.
- There are commercial covers available from small companies, PouchWear, and some hernia belts from Ostomy Solutions in white or black.
- Covers not only improve appearance but also act as a barrier to prevent friction and skin rashes.

2. Contacting manufacturers and current product choices:
- Some members have reached out to companies like Hollister and Coloplast, as well as ostomy advocate Thom Nichols, to request colored or skin-tone appliances.
- Hollister mentioned they keep the outward face clear for inspection purposes and have no plans to change this.
- Specific Hollister products mentioned include flange 14202 and pouch 18218.
- A suggestion was made to test the stretchable plastic used in Glad “ForceFlex” garbage bags for smaller, less visible pouches.
- Current opaque options include Convatec's 2-piece opaque beige system and Coloplast Assura beige pouches.

3. Historical and practical perspectives:
- Long-term users recall older transparent or black/white rubber reusable pouches, noting that modern beige disposables are more comfortable.
- Some prefer clear pouches for medical monitoring or to annoy airport screeners, but many switch to opaque once they understand their stoma’s pattern.
- Skin irritation under a pouch can be eased with plain talc before applying a cover.

4. Skin-tone and fashion considerations:
- Dark-skinned users point out that the "one beige fits all" approach is not ideal and suggest a range of browns to match individual skin tones.
- An independent fashion designer, known as "Miss Cocobrown," is working on a proposal for color options and is meeting with St Mark’s Hospital in the UK to discuss this. Interested users can contact her.
- In the UK, Comfizz will soon offer stoma support pants and vests in pink and teal on prescription, available from November.

5. General consensus:
- While colored or skin-matched bags would be uplifting for many, fabric pouch covers remain the easiest and most affordable way to personalize the appearance and protect the skin until manufacturers offer more options.