Supportive, Fitted, and Comfortable Bras for Individuals with Atypical Breast Shape/Size: Review of the Challenges and Proposed Roadmap
Individuals with atypical breast shape/size often find it quite challenging to obtain a comfortable, supportive, and fitted bra off-the-shelf. They include people with very large breasts, who have significant breast asymmetry, and/or have undergone mastectomy or mammoplasty. This paper provides insi...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-10-01
|
| Series: | Textiles |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7248/2/4/32 |
| _version_ | 1797455106602434560 |
|---|---|
| author | Josephine Taiye Bolaji Patricia I. Dolez |
| author_facet | Josephine Taiye Bolaji Patricia I. Dolez |
| author_sort | Josephine Taiye Bolaji |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Individuals with atypical breast shape/size often find it quite challenging to obtain a comfortable, supportive, and fitted bra off-the-shelf. They include people with very large breasts, who have significant breast asymmetry, and/or have undergone mastectomy or mammoplasty. This paper provides insights in their challenges and attempts to fill the gap in terms of critical review of the current state of knowledge around the topic of bras. Poor and ill fitted bras are associated with breast, chest and shoulder pain, embarrassment, and an overall reduction in quality of life among others. Building upon the advantages and limitations of solutions to improve the fit, support and comfort of bras found in the literature, this paper proposes strategies to solve these challenges. As the problem is multidisciplinary, a human-centered interdisciplinary approach is key to ensure that all aspects are considered at all stages of the process. A modular design allows selecting the fabric characteristics based on the requirements of each bra part. In terms of materials, stretch woven fabrics offer a large potential in the production of bras to enhance the support provided by areas such as the under band and back panels. Bespoke manufacturing takes into account the specificities of each individual. The road map proposed here will contribute to enhance the quality of life of individuals with atypical breast shape/size. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:47:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-82e1945876d340d48a210f36525ff4c6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-7248 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:47:47Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Textiles |
| spelling | doaj.art-82e1945876d340d48a210f36525ff4c62023-11-24T18:23:30ZengMDPI AGTextiles2673-72482022-10-012456057810.3390/textiles2040032Supportive, Fitted, and Comfortable Bras for Individuals with Atypical Breast Shape/Size: Review of the Challenges and Proposed RoadmapJosephine Taiye Bolaji0Patricia I. Dolez1Department of Human Ecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2N1, CanadaDepartment of Human Ecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2N1, CanadaIndividuals with atypical breast shape/size often find it quite challenging to obtain a comfortable, supportive, and fitted bra off-the-shelf. They include people with very large breasts, who have significant breast asymmetry, and/or have undergone mastectomy or mammoplasty. This paper provides insights in their challenges and attempts to fill the gap in terms of critical review of the current state of knowledge around the topic of bras. Poor and ill fitted bras are associated with breast, chest and shoulder pain, embarrassment, and an overall reduction in quality of life among others. Building upon the advantages and limitations of solutions to improve the fit, support and comfort of bras found in the literature, this paper proposes strategies to solve these challenges. As the problem is multidisciplinary, a human-centered interdisciplinary approach is key to ensure that all aspects are considered at all stages of the process. A modular design allows selecting the fabric characteristics based on the requirements of each bra part. In terms of materials, stretch woven fabrics offer a large potential in the production of bras to enhance the support provided by areas such as the under band and back panels. Bespoke manufacturing takes into account the specificities of each individual. The road map proposed here will contribute to enhance the quality of life of individuals with atypical breast shape/size.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7248/2/4/32braatypical breast shape/sizemodular designstretch fabricsbespoke manufacturing |
| spellingShingle | Josephine Taiye Bolaji Patricia I. Dolez Supportive, Fitted, and Comfortable Bras for Individuals with Atypical Breast Shape/Size: Review of the Challenges and Proposed Roadmap Textiles bra atypical breast shape/size modular design stretch fabrics bespoke manufacturing |
| title | Supportive, Fitted, and Comfortable Bras for Individuals with Atypical Breast Shape/Size: Review of the Challenges and Proposed Roadmap |
| title_full | Supportive, Fitted, and Comfortable Bras for Individuals with Atypical Breast Shape/Size: Review of the Challenges and Proposed Roadmap |
| title_fullStr | Supportive, Fitted, and Comfortable Bras for Individuals with Atypical Breast Shape/Size: Review of the Challenges and Proposed Roadmap |
| title_full_unstemmed | Supportive, Fitted, and Comfortable Bras for Individuals with Atypical Breast Shape/Size: Review of the Challenges and Proposed Roadmap |
| title_short | Supportive, Fitted, and Comfortable Bras for Individuals with Atypical Breast Shape/Size: Review of the Challenges and Proposed Roadmap |
| title_sort | supportive fitted and comfortable bras for individuals with atypical breast shape size review of the challenges and proposed roadmap |
| topic | bra atypical breast shape/size modular design stretch fabrics bespoke manufacturing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7248/2/4/32 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT josephinetaiyebolaji supportivefittedandcomfortablebrasforindividualswithatypicalbreastshapesizereviewofthechallengesandproposedroadmap AT patriciaidolez supportivefittedandcomfortablebrasforindividualswithatypicalbreastshapesizereviewofthechallengesandproposedroadmap |