Beyond the Bust: A New Narrative for Better Inclusive Design
Posters in Parliament 2026
Beyond the Bust: A New Narrative for Better Inclusive Design
Yik Nok Bryan Lee, Ambreen Chohan, Lauren Haworth, and Steven Peter Brindle
Abstract
Introduction
The design of breast support garments has remained relatively similar since the 1930s. Failure to accommodate the natural diversity of the breasts has led to poor bra fit, negatively impacting on women’s physical, mental, and overall wellbeing. This study aimed to explore barriers and facilitators to improving wearability and bra fit for women.
Methods
This cross-sectional cohort study incorporated a mixed methods questionnaire amongst females. The question domains included: Participant characteristics, Bra Purchasing Habits, Wearability, Challenges with current bras, and Solutions to overcome challenges. Descriptive statistics, thematic analysis and one-way ANOVAs were used for data and statistical analysis.
Results
Three hundred responses were included in this study. Most participants (n=242, 81%) reported wearing a bra daily. 64% of respondents had not been professionally measured in the last year or had forgotten their previous fitting date. Age, religion, disability, level of education and employment status all influenced participants’ responses to the Wearer Acceptability Scale (P<0.05). Suggested improvements to design highlighted development of more affordable, accessible bra options, with a focus on ease of fastening, strap design, better underwire alternatives and improved sizing and fitting systems.
Conclusion
This novel study evidenced the current barriers and facilitators women experience daily with bra wearability and fit across key individual, task/design, and environmental factors. Better person-centred design has potential to reduce health inequalities. Well-designed bras are needed to address both functional and sensory concerns across diverse body-types and needs to improve health and wellbeing for women.
Research Explanation
Breast support garment design has changed little since the 1930s, leaving many women without effective solutions because few bras accommodate natural breast shape diversity. Failure to accommodate the needs of women has led to increased poor bra fit issues associated consequences for physical, psychological, and social wellbeing. Despite evidence of the negative health impacts of poor bra fit, research continues to attribute these problems to women rather than bra design, overlooking a key opportunity to improve women’s health and wellbeing through better design. This study aimed to explore barriers and facilitators to improving wearability and bra fit for women.
This study incorporated an online survey focusing on several key areas: participant characteristics, bra purchasing habits, wearability, challenges with current bras, and potential solutions. Findings from 300 participants revealed only 64% of women had attended a professional bra fitting appointment in the last year. Barriers identified with current breast support garments included: Individual (e.g. self-consciousness, life & hormonal, discomfort), Design (e.g. Difficulty donning/doffing, padding, durability ,washability, and underwire issues) and Environmental (e.g. location of purchase and inconsistent fitting systems) factors. Suggested improvements included affordability, improved sizing/fitting systems, comfortable designs, accessible bra options, “no bra” solutions and design improvements in fastenings, strap design, underwire alternatives, postural support, and fabrics.
This novel study identified the need for person-centred design to help reduce health inequalities and address functional and sensory concerns to improve health and wellbeing for women, in line with the UK Government’s Women’s Health Strategy.