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The purpose of this paper is to measure the breast volume of a large sample of women and their corresponding correctly fitted bra size, in order to demonstrate the range of volumes within each size and the variation amongst different bra sizes.

Breast volume of 104 women was measured via water displacement and was compared to their professionally fitted bra size, in the one style and brand of bra.

The mean breast volume of the left and right breast was 642 and 643 ml, ranging from 125 (size 10A) to 1,900 ml (size 24DD). The average professionally fitted bra band size was 12 (range size 10‐24; Australian sizing) and cup size was DD (range A‐G). A range of breast volumes was found to correspond to the same bra size and the volume of any one cup size was not homogenous amongst different band sizes.

Appreciating the range of breast volumes that correspond to each bra size is important in terms of both bra structure and design in order to provide adequate breast support. The large variation in cup volumes associated with different band sizes suggests women should not consider themselves to be an isolated cup size, but rather a combination of a band and cup size.

This is the first study to publish normative breast volume data, and the corresponding correctly fitted bra sizes, for a large sample of women. This is important information for bra design and to assist women achieve correct bra fit and support.

Previous research suggests that many active females are not engaging in sports bra use, despite the positive health benefits. The aim of this study was to establish and compare sports bra use, preferences and bra fit issues for exercising females in some of the largest and most diverse global underwear markets (the US, the UK and China).

A survey covering activity levels, sports bra use and preferences, bra issues and demographics was administered via Qualtrics and completed by 3,147 physically active females (aged ≥ 18 years) from the US (n = 1,060), UK (n = 1,050) and China (n = 1,037).

In general, participants were 25–29 years, 121 to 140 pounds, 34B bra size and pre-menopausal. “I cannot find the right sports bra” was the most frequent breast barrier to exercise (25.4%). Three-quarters of women wore a sports bra during exercise, with significantly higher use in China (83.9%), compared to the UK (67.2%). A third of all participants reported sports bra shoulder straps “digging into the skin”. Sports bra preferences were: compression sports bras with a racer back, wide straps and thick straps in the US and the UK; thin straps in China and adjustable straps and underband, no wire and maximum breast coverage in the US and the UK, including nipple concealment and with padded/moulded cups.

Information provided on differences in sports bra use, preferences and bra issues across three major global markets could be utilised by brands and manufacturers to optimise bra marketing and fit education initiatives and inform future sports bra design and distribution strategies.

This study aims to develop a sports bra with cosmetic microcapsules that supports the breasts and provides an aesthetically upright and lifted posture by using 28 days period.

A fitting process was carried out on provided seamless sports bras to determine the criteria that have to be improved considering the desired properties. The new sports bras were produced after the pattern design was developed; cosmetic microcapsules were applied to some of the bras and some were used as a control group to compare the real cosmetic effects. Female subjects tried the newly developed sports bras in a 28-day wear trial. Measurements were taken at certain periods during the wear trials, and the obtained data were analyzed statistically.

The findings of this study determined that the product provides a decrease in breast girth and increases skin moisture and nipple height after 28 days of regular use due to the effect of cosmetic ingredients released from microcapsules. A great majority of subjects found the breast lifting and supporting property of the sports bra successful and were satisfied with the new shape of the subjects' breasts.

Fitting studies were carried out directly on the female body, and the designed and developed encapsulating type sports bra has been transformed into a cosmetic textile product that gains also cosmetic properties. The cosmetic effects of the bra were investigated with wear trials. On the other hand, the nipple height measure term was defined for the first time and added to the literature within the scope of the study.

In addition to the psychological differentiation of older women, ageing has numerous effects on the breast, influencing the volume, density and constitution of the tissue. It is currently unknown how these changes may affect bra requirements and bra consumer behaviour. The purpose of this paper is to explore factors of importance in bras in a cohort of women aged 45 to 65 years, whilst considering purchasing behaviour, brand loyalties and self‐image.

Following a grounded theoretical perspective, this study was exploratory in nature, including a mixture of five semi‐structured interviews and two focus groups with women, aged 45 to 65 years, to discuss bra habits, considerations, and influential factors of purchasing. Data were content analysed with additional frequency analysis.

The paper provides five key dimensions within which older women focus their attentions when purchasing bras. These are aesthetics, comfort, practicalities of bra purchase, breast support and psychological aspects. Participants purpose their bra requirements to be multifaceted and changing with increasing age.

Bra manufacturers and distributers may need to consider these factors when marketing towards an older population of women, to optimise products and subsequent sales.

The paper advances the literature by providing fundamental information on the key areas of consideration for older bra consumers.

The aim of this paper is to explore a method of predicting the amount of personalized bra cup dart in the 3D virtual environment for supporting the made‐to‐measure research of the optimum fitted brassiere pattern design.

Very useful enhanced FFD (free‐form‐deformation) techniques used in both computer animation and geometric modeling were skillfully transplanted to the female breast model deformation. Meanwhile, on the basis of 3D scan and surface modeling technologies, the realization approach of the abstract female breast model library focusing on the individual variations of shapes and sizes was presented. Then according to the principle of isometric area and flabellate segments, the personalized bra cup dart quantity and its distributive information were provided by 3D‐2D transformation.

The paper finds that personalized female breast shapes and various aesthetic breast forms sculpted by different bras could be interactively simulated. Accordingly, the amount of corresponding individual bra cup dart and its distributive information were provided. The cup darts were mainly distributed below the bust line. Moreover, dart shapes were curvy.

The principles of virtual breast library construction and 3D‐2D transformation are also suitable for other parts of the human body such as buttocks, abdomen and, etc. for intimate apparel research.

The method of predicting the personalized bra cup dart quantity based on the 3D virtual breast model library was delivered for the first time. The novel findings provided an important guideline for designers to improve the well‐fitted bra pattern design technique. Furthermore, it would reduce the manufacturing cost without keeping physical dummies.

This study aims to investigate if engineered compression variations using moisture-responsive knitted fabric design can improve breast support in seamless knitted sports bras.

An experimental approach was used to integrate a novel moisture-responsive fabric panel into a seamless knitted bra, and the resulting compression variability in dry versus wet conditions were compared with those of a control bra. Air permeability and elongation testing of between breasts fabric panels was conducted in dry and wet conditions, followed by three-dimensional body scanning of eight human participants wearing the two bras in similar conditions. Questionnaires were used to evaluate perceived comfort and breast support of both bras in both conditions.

Air permeability test results showed that the novel panel had the highest variance between dry and wet conditions, confirming its moisture-responsive design, and increased its elongation coefficient in both wale and course directions in wet condition. There were significant main effects of bra type and body location on breast compression measurements. Breast circumferences in the novel bra were significantly larger than in the control bra condition. The significant two-way interaction between bra type and moisture condition showed that the control bra lost compressive power in wet condition, whereas the novel bra became more compressive when wet. Changes in compression were confirmed by participants’ perception of tighter straps and drier breast comfort.

These findings add to the limited scientific knowledge of moisture adaptive bra design using engineered knitted fabrics via advanced manufacturing technologies, with possible applications beyond sports bras, such as bras for breast surgery recovering patients.

As a supply chain management initiative, category management has to date been the almost exclusive preserve of the grocery sector and, within that sector, limited to food categories. This paper proposes that the fashion industry might usefully follow the grocery industry's lead and implement category management. A comprehensive review of the literature on category management highlights the opportunity for fashion marketing to consider the potential of category management, and the specific research gaps. In operationalising the subsequent research objectives, the paper reports the results of exploratory, in‐depth consumer research for a particular category of intimate apparel. The managerial implications of these findings are then discussed in the context of the established eight‐step category management process. The overall tentative conclusion of this study is that as a consumer‐oriented joint planning tool, category management offers retailer‐supplier partnerships in the fashion industry an important adjunct to the industry's quick response methods. The paper closes with an agenda for future research.

States that bra design is a highly specialized process requiring a combination of design creativity, precision pattern making skills and a detailed knowledge of fabric performance. Although there is substantial published material cataloguing the historical origins of the garment, there is little information documenting the bra design and manufacture. Examines the design process, following a survey of professional designers. Describes a common framework along with the variations in individual working methods. Emphasizes the high dependence on heuristic knowledge and the reliance on physical prototyping in the design cycle.

The purpose of this paper is to explore a novel breast volume measuring method by mesh projection based on three-dimensional (3D) point cloud data.

Mesh projection method, a rapid and accurate method to calculate the volume of models described by triangular meshes, was transplanted to calculate breast volume based on 3D point cloud data derived from a [TC]2 3D scanner. A simple landmarking procedure was developed to decide breast boundary. Breast volumes derived from mesh projection method were compared to the results of water displacement by statistical analysis to validate its accuracy.

A novel breast volume measurement method is developed based on mesh projection method. By comparison of water displacement, mesh projection method is proved to be accurate to calculate breast volume. Furthermore, a simple and standard breast boundary landmarking procedure is established, which avoids the arbitrariness of the definition of breast boundary and improves the repetition of landmarking.

A simple and convenient tool is provided for bra industries to rapidly and accurately measure breast volume.

Mesh projection method is primarily applied to determine breast volume based on 3D point cloud data. Meanwhile, a simple and standard breast boundary landmarking procedure is put forward.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the shape change of breast during movement to inform product development of bras and other female wearable products.

Using the latest 4D body scanning technology, the authors monitored the change of seven non-circumferential breast measurements, including four linear measurements (widths, depth, etc.) and three angular measurements, across nine dynamic scans of a complete gait cycle during running. A series of statistical analysis were conducted to thoroughly investigate the measurement values in dynamic states compared with values extracted from static 3D scans.

Major findings are as follows: (1) For width-underbust, chest-depth, vertical-acromion and angle ABD, more than half of the dynamic frames presents a significant difference with the static frame. (2) Width-underbust and chest-depth measured in static can underestimate the actual values under motion. (3) vertical-acromion presents a W-shaped general trend for the nine dynamic frames with peaks observed at the keyframes (i.e. when a participant's right or left knee bends the most and rises to its highest level) and lows at the intermediate frames. (4) Angle ABD and angle BAD both present an M-shaped general trend, the exact opposite of a W-shaped trend.

While 3D body scanning and motion capture systems have both contributed significantly to the study of breast, 4D body scanning incorporates the advantages of both technologies and captures the 3D surface of the body during movement at each instant moment. This is one of the first studies that adopt the new technology for apparel applications.