Re: Bali bra questionaire response from a large breasted woman
From: anonymous@obgyn.net
Fri, 10 Jan 2003 14:18:59 -0600 (CST)
WOW! You go girl! I am not a large breasted woman but my goodness, your
response to the questionaire was outstanding; articulate and passionate.
If that doesn't get their attention then i can't image what would. I
applaud you for making your voice heard regarding an issue important to
you! -Valerie
At Fri, 10 Jan 2003, anonymous@obgyn.net wrote:
>
>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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