diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 960af26..f12250d 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -323,14 +323,22 @@ impl<T> ByteSubstring<T> where T: AsRef<[u8]> {
 /// A convenience type that can be used in a constant or static.
 pub type ByteSubstringConst = ByteSubstring<&'static [u8]>;
 
-/// Searches a string for the first occurence of the substring.
-pub struct Substring<'a>(ByteSubstring<&'a [u8]>);
+/// Searches a string for the first occurrence of the substring.
+pub struct Substring<T>(ByteSubstring<T>);
 
-impl<'a> Substring<'a> {
+impl<'a> Substring<&'a [u8]> {
     pub /* const */ fn new(needle: &'a str) -> Self {
         Substring(ByteSubstring::new(needle.as_bytes()))
     }
+}
+
+impl Substring<Vec<u8>> {
+    pub fn new_owned(needle: String) -> Self {
+        Substring(ByteSubstring::new(needle.into_bytes()))
+    }
+}
 
+impl<T> Substring<T> where T: AsRef<[u8]> {
     #[cfg(feature = "pattern")]
     fn needle_len(&self) -> usize {
         self.0.needle_len()
@@ -344,7 +352,7 @@ impl<'a> Substring<'a> {
 }
 
 /// A convenience type that can be used in a constant or static.
-pub type SubstringConst = Substring<'static>;
+pub type SubstringConst = Substring<&'static str>;
 
 #[cfg(all(test, feature = "benchmarks"))]
 mod bench {