Bali bra questionaire response from a large breasted woman
From: anonymous@obgyn.net ("anonymous@obgyn.net")
Fri, 10 Jan 2003 13:37:07 -0500
Ladies,
I know this doesn't really have to do with PCOS, but yet, many of us with
PCOS seem to have the problem of finding comfortable, supportive bras
because so many of us have breast sizes of DD or above.
Lauren at Bali Bra sent me an email questionaire and since this is the
first bra maker to ever have done so, I gave them my thoughts and ideas!
First, I shared my response and the questionaire with my friends and family
whom I have in my address book. Then, I thought...."The MORE people who
respond and PROVE there is a market for bras meeting specific needs of
larger breasted women, the more likely we are to find a manufacturer to
take us seriously and the higher chance of finding one who will be willing
to enter our underserved market!"
It is in this spirit I submit the following emails....Lauren's questionaire
to me and my response to her. I hope you will write to Lauren at Bali and
let her know your thoughts and ideas. If you agree with my comments and
have nothing to add of your own, feel free to copy or re-word my email and
send it to Lauren!
Thank you for your time, ladies!
Hugs
Shelley (please remove my identifying email from any forwarded material!)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From: Lauren <anonymous@obgyn.net>
Subject: What are your biggest bra complaints?
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 09:11:13 -0800 (PST)
Hi Shelley
It's Lauren from the Bali(R) brand, and I am doing some informal research
that I need your help with. It's only 3 quick questions... if you have
time, simply hit "reply" and answer the following questions:
1. Do you have problems with your bra straps falling down?
2. If so, do you consider this to be your biggest bra complaint?
3. Whether you answered "yes" or "no" above, briefly
describe your 3 biggest bra complaints:
That's it! Thank you!
--
Lauren
Program Manager - "Bali Fits 100,000 Women"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hi Lauren!
Wow! I can't believe a bra company actually CARES what women look for in a
++++++++++++++++++++
1. Do you have problems with your bra straps falling down?
--------
For me, this is NOT a problem. I have more difficulty with straps that dig
in and cause neck and shoulder/arm pain and headaches.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
2. If so, do you consider this to be your biggest bra complaint?
-----------
No. Finding a bra that is actually designed for larger, heavier, fuller
breasts IS! Not an upsized version of the bras smaller breasted women
wear, but one that truly addresses the unique needs of comfort, support,
design, and "eye appeal" that larger breasted women want!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
3. Whether you answered "yes" or "no" above, briefly
describe your 3 biggest bra complaints:
-------------
So far, the USA manufacturers/suppliers seem to forget there are MANY MANY
women who wear size DDD or above! The styles available are often just
larger scaled versions of bras designed with smaller breasts in mind.
Larger breasted women need bra makers to actually look at THEIR unique
needs:
SUPPORT -distributing weight of the breasts to help lessen shoulder pain,
back strain, and the "dumpy look" that saggy bras without a lot of support
tend to give
COMFORT - straps that don't dig in; bands that don't chafe, cut-in, ride up
in back
DESIGN - we need bras built with the same engineering care put into
high-rise buildings and expansion bridges! The simple "sling" that works
for smaller breasts doesn't work for cup sizes over DD. Underwires are
often a joke for larger breasted women as well because the "U" shaping is
wider whereas our actual CHEST AREA FROM ARMPIT TO ARMPIT is NOT
proportionately larger when compaired with the same design for smaller
breasted women! Designers need to realize that larger breasted women do
not want to be "lifted and separated", for if we found bras that truly did
that, our breasts would look extremely rediculous...as if a second set of
arms reaching out to embrace someone! These "lift and separate" designs
seem to assume that larger breasted women grow their breasts from beneath
their armpits. Chafing on upper arms from active arm movements occurs when
the breasts are forced into this wider spread separation that does not
allow breasts to be placed more naturally and carried on the front of the
chest instead of shoved closer to the armpit area.
Design also needs to consider materials necessary to achieve the desired
support. Using thinner "powernets" found in a lot of bras offers poor
support and comfort. Your competitor's style #4693 Playtex 18 hour
original comfort strap soft cup has sides of a material offering firmer
support.
Design also needs to realize that plastic rings and adjusting buckle
adjustments don't work for heavier breasts! They break, often on the first
wear! I have lost count of the times I've had to sew straps into place
because these flimsy plastic pieces have broken. Try using a strong coated
metal!
Designs need to be made for larger cup sizes....G, H, I, J!!!!!
EYE APPEAL - Although many of us will settle for support and comfort over
"pretty styling", it would be wonderful if WE had the same choices to be
"pretty underneath" just as our smaller breasted sisters do! Choices in
colors and materials and prints would be fantastic too! Where a smaller
cup size might have a lower cleavage cut in the front, the same styling
tends to cause "pop-over" in larger breasted women as they move. If a
strong lacy insert were put in this space, perhaps larger breasted women
would be able to feel prettier and sexier too, without worry of looking as
if they'd sprouted a second set of breasts!
Thank you for your time in reading this. If I can be of any further help,
I would love the opportunity to help you meet the needs of the many "well
endowed" women like me! I have several ideas for bras that would meet the
needs of larger, heavier breasted women. I also participate in several
online communities with a substantial number of members experiencing the
same complaints I've written, so I KNOW there is a market out there for
better built bras! The question is....IS YOUR COMPANY READY TO BE A LEADER
IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF WOMEN IN A SEVERELY UNDERSERVED MARKET, OR WILL YOU
CONTINUE TO CONCENTRATE ON THE ALREADY SATURATED MARKET OF SMALL BREASTED
WOMEN?
I welcome any questions, comments, and additional correspondence!
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you!
Shelley - (currently wearing Glamorize style 6331K Magic Lift Soft
Shoulder Soft Cup Back Close Bra size 40-H)
(I included my email addy here, and phone numbers......I have deleted them
for purpose of forwarding to others).
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