Garment Sample: Garment samples are inevitably important and are developed tested before starting the bulk production. It means making a sample of the garment or fabric which requires to be sold. Samplingis one of the main processes in Garment Industry and it has a vital role in attracting buyers. Because the buyers generally places the order after they are satisfied with the quality of the samples.
Garment Sample Development Process
The garment which is need for bulk production is called sample garments. According to specification sheet the sample which is approved by Buyer is called approved sample & the sample which is followed by approved sample is called counter sample. For smooth production it is necessary. Here two type of sample developing process are showing below. Sample Developing Procedure: 1st sample: The processes of 1stsample are given in bellow:
Receive spec sheet of garments from buyer.
Make pattern as per measurement.
Check the pattern which has made.
If necessary Check shrinkage, twisting, bowing before pattern makingCutting fabric as per pattern.
Collect accessories.
Start sewing.
M/C specified.
Check the sample to ensure it, ok.
Actual size required.
Actual fabric construction.
Send it to buyer for approval.
Development sample: After approving of 1stsample, the work of development sample is start. The process of Development sample is given in bellow.
Make pattern as per measurement, if buyer change the measurement to observe the counter sample.
Inspection is the act of looking at something closely in order to learn more about it, to find problems, to see if rules are being followed and things are in their proper condition. Buyer Inspection System in garments sector is mainly divided into three. Some buyers maintain four Inspections which called Pre-final Inspection. It takes place before Final Inspection. Main Inspections are as below:
1. Initial Inspection:
It’s very important for Quality Control Department to carry out Initial Inspection after first or trail cutting of 200 to 500 pieces covering all sizes & colors. It is to compare with approved sample & ensure to be conformance of requirements. It’s very important to get a smooth production as it’s the time to find out & solve the problems which may cause during production. A meeting can be held after this Inspection named First Bulk Review Meeting. See image of First Bulk Review Meeting below.
2. In-line Inspection:
This Inspection is done during production. It can be performed several times depending quantity of ordered style / article. See image below for Inline Inspection Sheet.
Click on image for large size
3. Final Inspection:
This inspection depends on AQL which means Acceptable Quality Level. Please note, during Inspection, defective goods are categorized as Critical, Major or Minor according to their importance to the customers. One critical defect can make us failure in result of Inspection, so, we all need be more sincere about defects.
Critical Defect is one that relates to a safety or legal problem, or a delivery error which prevents distribution of the product to the customer.
Major defect is one that significantly affects the usefulness or attractiveness of the product, because it always results in a customer return and / or an immediate or later complaint.
Minor defect is one which may not always be noticed by the user, and which doesn’t really affect the usefulness or attractiveness of the product.
See following image of Final Inspection Sheet.
Click on image for large size
Inspection Sampling Plans: During Final Inspection, we need sampling plans. There are several sampling plans available with 4 features that separate them from others. It’s quite not possible to describe in brief. We need read lots in books regarding Inspection Sampling Plans. These are:
AQL (1.0, 1.5, 2.5, 4.0, 6.5)
Type (Normal, Tightened, Reduced)
Plan (Single, Double)
Level (I, II, III)
The following Inspection Plan is in the most of Bangladeshi Factories.
AQL = 2.5
Type = Normal
Plan = Single
Level = II
See image below for your reference.
Click on image for large size
Few buyers don’t follow any AQL for their Inspection System. Instead of AQL, they follow percentage of defective goods in the Order. If any defect of product exceeds 3%, then the goods will be rechecked for those defects.
See the sheet in image that few buyers use as Final Inspection Report based on percentage of defects.
Click on image for large size
During these inspections, various types of reports & records are seen & followed such as Quality Risk Assessment Report, Fabric Visual Inspection Report (4 Point System), Fabric Wash Test Report, Fabrics GSM, Spirality & Shrinkage Test Report, Fabric Relaxation Report, Lay & Marker Check Report, Cut Panel Measurement Report, Process Control Report (7 pieces), Traffic Light System, Hourly Q. C. Pass Production Report, Hourly Final Inspection Report by factory QC, Inline Inspection Report by factory QC, Pre-final Inspection Report, Pre-production Meeting Record, Loose Metal Control Register, Pull Test Record, Nickel & Ferrous Test Record, Shade-wise Country Plan & Shade Record, Hourly Internal Quality Audit, Corrective & Preventive Plan, Monthly Worker Training Program, Production Reporting & planning, Shipping Documentation etc. So, we can understand how difficult it is to explain in brief. One needs years to learn it. I just picked up a drop of water from sea. I’m learning & I suggest you to learn more & more. I added few Images here for references. If you need these images in other formats, please email me. Thank you.
Pattern Making Pattern making is a highly skilled technique which calls for technical ability, and a sensitivity to interpret a design with a practical understanding of garment construction. For successful dress designing pattern making forms the fundamental step. This function connects design to production by producing paper templates for all components such as cloth, hemming, fusible etc. which have to be cut for completing a specific garment.
Pattern making is an art. It is the art of manipulating and shaping a flat piece of fabric to conform to one or more curves of the human figure. Pattern making is a bridge function between design and production. A sketch can be turned into a garment via a pattern which interprets the design in the form of the garment components. A pattern is flat while the body is not. The body has height, width and depth. Within this roughly cylindrical framework there are a series of secondary curves and bulges, which are of concern to the pattern maker. Darts are the basis of all pattern making. They convert the flat piece of cloth into a three dimensional form, which fits the bulges of the body.
A pattern maker typically makes a pattern from a flat sketch with measurements or a two dimensional fashion illustration. The basic pattern is the very foundation upon which pattern making, fit and design are based. The basic pattern is the starting point for flat pattern designing. It is a simple pattern that fits the body with just enough ease for movement and comfort.
Methods of Pattern Making Pattern making involves three methods-
Drafting
Draping
Flat paper pattern making
01. Drafting: It involves measurements derived from sizing systems or accurate measurements taken on a person, dress or body form. Measurements for chest, waist, hip and so on, and ease allowances are marked on paper and construction lines are drawn to complete the pattern. Drafting is used to create basic, foundation or design patterns.
MEASUREMENTS
Bust – measure just under the arms around the fullest part of chest.
Waist – measure around narrowest part of torso.
High Hip – measure 6 inches [15.5 cm] below waist around the hips.
Back-waist length – measure from nape of neck to waist level
Shoulder length – measure shoulder from ball socket to side of neck.
Armhole depth – measure from nape of neck to under arm level.
Back width – measure from armhole to armhole across shoulder blades.
Neck – measure around base of neck.
Tools use for Drafting
A: Tape Measure This is likely something you already have in your stash, because if you have been making clothing you should have been measuring your body along the way! If not, pick up a good quality fiberglass tape measure today so you can start your pattern making off right with correct body measurements.
B: Seam Ripper Like the tape measure, you probably have a seam ripper. You will use this in patternmaking for taking out your basting stitches when you move from the muslin fitting to the pattern drafting stage.
C: Fine Point Sharpie Marker Muslin versions are always ugly because they are marked up, but you want to make your markings with a permanent and fine point. I like these push-button fine point sharpie pens as the cap always seems to get lost in my studio! These are quick and easy to use.
D: Tracing Wheel To take your markings from the muslin stage to the patternmaking stage, this tool will pierce through the paper and leave behind marks to draft with a mechanical pencil.
E: Rotary Cutter I like using my rotary cutter for the big broad strokes of cutting muslin. Make sure to use a cutting mat beneath your item to protect the cutting surface of the table underneath!
F: Fabric Scissors Sharp, high-quality scissors are used for all your fabric cutting in sewing and patternmaking. These will shape the muslin down to the proper size after you have cut it big and broad with the rotary cutter.
G: Tracing Paper I personally do not use this, but many designers like it for leaving marks behind on their muslins. I like a sharpie or tracing wheel, but try these sheets out and perhaps you will love them! Many people do.
H: Scotch Tape It is inevitable that you will need to tape pattern pieces together and I find that basic Scotch tape is the best for this.
I: Clear Rulers Having a variety of clear rulers in different shapes and sizes is essential in your kit for patternmaking. I like having a little one for marking in tiny areas, long ones for making marks for pin tucks, side seam lines, and other parts of the patternmaking process that call for something longer than average. I also have a quilting square with diagonal lines for helping square up corners and creating angles.
J: Right Angle This is also a huge help in creating perfect 90 degree angles on your pattern. These are also available in clear plastic, which most people prefer. I have had this black one since art school and still use it.
K: Curved Rulers To shape arm holes, hip curves, hems and other lines that are not straight in patternmaking, it is essential that you have a few different curved rulers to get the proper slope in your pattern.
Tools use for Drafting
02. Draping: It involves the draping of a two dimensional piece of fabric around a form, conforming to its shape, creating a three-dimensional fabric pattern. Ease allowances for movement are added to make the garment comfortable to wear. Advantage of draping is that the designer can see the overall design effect of the finished garment on the body form before the garment piece is cut and sewn. However, it is more expensive and time consuming than flat pattern making. Draping can be made on a Human body or on a stand.
Add caption
03. Flat Pattern Making: It involves the development of a fitted basic pattern with comfort ease to fit a person or body form. A sloper is the starting point for flat pattern designing. It is a simple pattern that fits the body with just enough ease for movement and comfort. Five basic pattern pieces are used for women’s clothing. They include a snug-fitting bodice front and bodice back with darts and a basic neckline, a sleeve and a fitted skirt front and back with darts. However, as fashion changes frequently women’s styles fluctuate frequently. These basic slopers are then manipulated to create fashions. Nowadays draping is also tested by Computer aid techniques. A basic sloper has no seam allowances, which facilitates its manipulations to various styles. It has no design interest, only construction lines are marked on it. It is necessary that the basic structure of a sloper should be such that adjustments can be introduced easily. For a good pattern making, accurate measurements are of utmost importance.
Pattern making by CAD system
The flat pattern making method is widely used in the ready-to-wear market because it is fast and accurate (Aldrich)
Experiment name: Prepare a trimming list of shirt, trouser and jacket.
Introduction: The materials used in a garment except cloth to make a complete garment are called trimmings. Some trimmings can be seen from outside whether some are not. Again some trimmings are used for increasing beauty whether some for only function.
Objectives: To list out the trimming names.
List of trimmings: Now the trimming list for shirt, trouser and jacket is given below:
Button: Buttons are the hardware items used in conjunction with button for the fastening of garments. The purpose of using buttons are- Functional purpose. Decorative purpose.
Types of button:
1) according to no of holes: · 2-hole button. · 4-hole button. · Special button – Shank button – Snap button. – Decorative button.
2) According to ligne no: According to ligne no there are various types of buttons. Lange is the measuring unit of button diameter.
Zipper: In making trousers, skirts and jackets chain or zipper is an essential component which is used to open or close the opening of garment.
Purpose of zipper: i) Functional purpose of zipper is as a part of a garment. ii) Where zipper is used as a decorative purpose it increases the beauty of garment.
Types of zipper: Metal zipper. Polyester or nylon coil zipper. Plastic-molded zipper.
Label: No garments can be sold without some kind of label attached to it. Specially in case of exporting, label on a garment is a must. Label is a attached compound of garment on which important information regarding the garment are written on printed.
There are mainly 3-types of label: 1) Main label. 2) Size label. 3) Care label.
Lining: Linings are generally a functional part of a garment. They are used variously to maintain the shape of a garment, to improve the hang and comfort by allowing it to slide over other garment.
Linings are joined to main garment by sewing and for this normal sewing machines are enough. The method of attaching lining to outer garments depends on the garment type and on whether it is fully or partially bagged out.
Interlining: Interlinings are used to support, reinforced control the shape of some areas of garments such as collars, cuffs, waist bands, facings and the front of coats. They are attached by fusing.
Conclusion: The experiment gives us an idea about different types of trimmings. I would like to give special thanks to our teacher. I am also grateful to our instructors. I think this experiment will be very helpful in my future life.
Thread count Count is a numerical value, which express the coarseness or fineness (diameter) of the yarn and also indicate the relationship between length and weight (the mass per unit length or the length per unit mass) of that yarn. Therefore, the concept of yarn count has been introduced which specifies a certain ratio of length to weight. Thread count is expressed by warp and weft yarn. Thread count is very important for GSM and cover factor. But the GSM and cover factor are also depend on the thread density.
From the Table-1 and Figure-1; we have seen that the highest warp count is 40 Ne of Plain and the lowest warp count is 8 Ne (16+16) of Boxy. Also we see that the highest weft count is 40 Ne of Plain and the lowest weft count is 5 Ne (10+10) of Ottoman. Ne (English Count) is the indirect system. In theoretically higher Ne must be finer than lower Ne. So all the results we have collected regarding thread count comply with the theory.
Table-1: Thread count of different types of woven fabric
Sample
Thread count
Warp
Weft
Dobby
32
20
Boxy
16+16=8
16+16=8
Rib stop
21
21
Oxford
40+40=20
30/2=15
Plain
40
40
3/1 LHT
16
12
Zigzag twill
22
22
Bedford cord
20
16
2/1 RHT
20
20+70D=16
Ottoman
16
10+10=5
Figure-1: Thread count chart of different types of woven fabric
Thread density Thread density is the number of warp and weft threads per inch of woven fabric. Thread density is denoted by EPI and PPI. It is very important for GSM and cover factor. But the GSM and cover factor also depend on the thread count.
From the Table-2 and Figure-2; we have seen that the EPI is always greater than PPI. The highest EPI is 154 of Bedford cord and the lowest EPI is 100 of ottoman. Also we see that the highest PPI is 85 of Dobby and the lowest PPI is 48 of 2/1 RHT. In theoretically EPI must be greater than PPI. EPI is greater than PPI in our result. So all the results we have found in thread density comply with the theoretical concept.
Table 2: Thread density of different types of woven fabric
Sample
Thread density
EPI
PPI
Dobby
152
85
Boxy
108
56
Rib stop
110
72
Oxford
120
80
Plain
133
72
3/1 LHT
116
56
Zigzag twill
133
68
Bedford cord
154
80
2/1 RHT
120
48
Ottoman
100
49
Figure-2: Thread density chart of different types of woven fabric
A bra is a garment which supports the breasts and protect them from sagging or losing shape. Different outfits have various types of bra to best compliment the dress whilst making the bosom look great! Wearing a normal belt bra under a tube top or gown is a mis-match so here are different types of bra / brassiere to wear with dresses. We have also published about bra fitting techniques, how to wear bra properly etc. You can read those articles to know more about bra,
Types of Bra:
There are different types of bra or brassiere. Those Bra which are generally used by womens, a list with attractive figure are pointed out below:
Adhesive Bras : Adhesive bra is usually intended for halter or backless dress and it sticks to the bust having no straps and hook support. This type of bra is invented especially for backless outfits and can be ideal for tall small busty women. There are two types in adhesive bra one is disposable made of paper that use strong adhesive and other is reusable made of silicon which can be washed to reuse.
Adhesive Bra
Bandeau Bra : Bandeau bra is just is a band of fabric with no cups, no straps providing little support to the bust. It doesn’t provide much support and only worn intended for fashion. Bandeau bra again is suitable for small busty women and girls.
Bandeau Bra
Front fastening bras : Some people say that front fastening bras are more convenient than back fastenings as the clasps are easier to reach and the problem of fumbling with hooks behind your back is removed. These bras can be wired or non-wired and come in a variation of styles and colours. They can be worn under any type of clothing including day wear and evening wear.
Front fastening bra
Nursing Bra : A nursing bra is a specialized brassiere that provides additional support to women who are lactating and permits comfortable breastfeeding without the need to remove the bra. This is accomplished by specially designed bra cups that include flaps which can be opened with one hand to expose the nipple. The flap is usually held closed with a simple clasp or hook.
Nursing Bra
Full Support Bra : Full Support Bra is the type of bra which is being used in the day to day life by most of the women. The Full Support Bra covers the whole of the breasts.
Full Support Bra
Minimizer Bra : This bra is commonly sought after by large-breasted women who wish to reduce the appearance of their breasts by a cup size or two.
Minimizer Bra
Sport Bra : Sports bras are made for active women who engage in rigorous physical exercise. They are designed to be comfortable and supportive by holding the breasts in place during motion, therefore reducing damage to soft tissues of the chest. These bras are usually made of stretchable material to provide a snug fit.
Sports Bra
Shelf Bra : This bra covers only the lower part of the breasts, leaving the nipples and upper part of the breasts exposed. It is not supportive and is worn in sexual situations.
Shelf Bra
Push-up Bra / Maximizer: Push up bras may seem expensive to many women because of unique style which it provides in lifting the breasts and closing them to give cleavage. Some styles and brands insert padding or foam inside the padding of push up bras in order to enhance the cleavage and imparting lifted shape to breast.
Maximizer/Push-up Bra
Maternity Bra : Maternity bras are expanded bra specially designed for pregnant mothers and the fabric used is such that it expands with the due course during the pregnancy.
Maternity Bra
Bridal Bra/Corset : As the name itself suggest, the bridal bra or the corset is mainly used for marriages which helps in providing the desired shape for Wedding dress. The main advantage of this type is that, it helps in giving the bride a good posture and can be more comfortable as the weight of the breasts is carried by the whole corset rather than the brassiere’s shoulder straps.
Bridal Bra/Corset
Backless Bra : The backless bra has no back and is usually lightweight, self adhesive and self supporting. It’s ideal for wearing under backless tops and dresses and of-the-shoulder numbers and the colours of the self adhesive types are often neutral or flesh colour, making them ideal to wear under sheer and low-cut clothing.
Backless Bra
T-shirt Bra : This type of bra is ideal for girls wearing T-shirts and tees being designed without raised seams to give the illusion of without wearing it. T-shirt bra is usually padded with soft foam in order to conceal nipples and to give smooth line under tee.
T-shirt Bra
Half cup bra: Lingerie manufacturers do not always agree on whatmakes a half cup bra but as a general rule, it’s one where the cup stops just above the nipple. It is generally moresuitable for a smaller cup but larger cup brands arebecoming increasingly skilled at creating supportive bras that give a good impression of a half cup.
Half cup bra
Halter neck bra : Hese bras have clasps on the straps, which attach at the back of the neck and also around the back. They cover about 75% of the breasts and are suitable to wear under many types of clothes including strapless tops, dresses and off the shoulder numbers.
Halter neck bra
Strapless bra : Especially designed for halter neck tops and dresses revealing shoulders, strapless bra are comfortable and stylish having no shoulder straps unlike traditional. This type of bra is sometimes not supportive and can be ideal for small breasted women.
Strapless bra
Moulded Bra : So called because the cup is moulded from a single pieceot foam or fabric – so that it’s seamless.
Moulded Bra
Balcounette bra: Sometimes known as a shelf bra. Lifts the breasts to enhance their appearance, shape, and cleavage. More revealing version of a demi-bra, offering little to no coverage. The name means ‘little balcony’ which could refer to the shape; it is also claimed, less plausibly, that the name comes from the notion that the bra is not visible from above, as when looking down from a balcony.First designed in the United States in about 1938, and came into mainstream fashion in the 1950s. Compare to full-cup and demi-cup bra.
Balcounette bra
Full Cup Bra : This bra provides full support, as it comes with underwired cups and covers most of the breasts. It is recommended for all women, and especially for those with heavier breasts.
Full Cup Bra
Belly Dance Bra: It is commonly assumed that a belly dancing bra size is the same as normal bra size. This is not necessarily so. For instance if you normally use a size 32C you may well find that a 34B will fit quite comfortably with a few minor adjustments to latch settings since most belly dancing bras are designed to cover very well.
Belly Dance Bra
Multiway bra : Multiway bras have straps that can be worn in a variety of ways, such as over the shoulder, as normal, as a halterneck, crossed around the middle of the body or even removed altogether. It’s extremely versatile and can be worn under all types and styles of clothing including low back, strapless and off the shoulder numbers. The Multiway bra can also be worn as any standard bra with t-shirts and dresses. One of the best things about the multiway bra is that the shoulder straps can be completely removed, making is ideal for dinner dresses and outfits for special occasions.
Multiway bra
Peephole Bras : A peephole bra features holes around the nipples. Its loose coverage of the entire breasts is insufficient to provide significant support. This type of bra is also worn in sexual situations.
Peephole Bra
Vintage Bra : This is the most traditional full supported bra having the shape of paraboloid with its axis perpendicular to the bust. This bra is pointed in the front and provides full support which was popularly worn in the period of 50’s to 80’s.
Vintage Bra
Water Bra : Sometimes known as a liquid or gel bra. Contains water- or silicone gel-filled cups that enhance the size of the breasts. Air bras were a similar concept.
Water Bra
U-plunge Bra : Deep plunge bra that lifts and shapes.Padded cups make this bra one of our best to enhance your cleavage.Pockets allow you to insert silicone pads for extreme cleavage. Convertible straps can be worn as conventional, halter or criss-cross. Perfect for:
U-Plunge Backless Strapless: Clear adhesive wings give you the ultimate backless strapless look. A must have for wedding dresses, prom dresses, and evening gowns.Includes a matching fabric bra strap for added comfort and support.
U Plunge Backless Strapless bra
Trainer Bra : This type of bra is designed for preteen or teenage girls who are in the early stages of breast development. It is smaller than standard bra sizes, and its cups come without underwire support. Aside from providing some measure of breast support, it helps young girls to become accustomed to wearing a bra.
Trainer Bra
Built-in Bra : Built-in bra is supportive brassiere inside a tee or tank top which provides support to the breast without need for separate bra. In many garments built-in bra consists of horizontal elastic strip, cups and underwires just like separate bra types.
Built-in Bra
Racerback Bra : Racerback bra is usually a kind of fashionable or sporty bra that has shoulder strap come over the shoulder in V pattern closely to the neck. This patterned bra is generally worn for sporty exercises and strapless dresses in which traditional straps would be seen closely.
Racerback Bra
Padded Bra : This bra comes with padding inside the cup linings, adding volume to smaller breasts. Padded bras are popular with teenage girls, who may otherwise stuff their training bras with tissues to make their breasts look fuller.
Padded Bra
Novelty Bra : A fashion bra designed for appearance and sensuality. May include unusual materials, like leather or feathers. Includes unusual designs like the open-tip, peekaboo, or peephole bra that feature holes or slits in the fabric that reveal the areolas and nipples. Usually made of sensuous material like Lycra, nylon (nylon tricot), polyester, satin, lace or silk. Suitable for erotic situations.
Novelty Bra
Mastectomy Bra : A mastectomy bra is intended for women who have undergone the removal of one or both breasts due to cancer treatments. Here, the cups are made with pockets to keep breast prostheses in place and simulate the existence of breasts.
Mastectomy Bra
Front Closure Bra : Front closure bra are specially made bra usually have closure in front including hooks and eyes rather than at the back. These bras are comfortable which lie flat at the back and can look great under t-shirts and tank tops.
Front Closure Bra
Demi Cup Bra : A demi cup bra covers only half the breasts, with its cups coming up above the nipples. This bra is suitable to wear with clothes that have plunging necklines. It is supportive, yet provides maximum exposure of the breasts.
Demi Cup Bra
Convertible Bra : This bra comes with detachable straps that can be arranged according to one’s needs. It is usually worn with clothes that reveal the back and shoulders, such as backless dresses with halter top necklines.
Convertible Bra
Plunge bra: Sometimes known as U-plunge. Allows for lower and increased cleavage. Designed with angled cups and an open and lowered centre gore. The shoulder straps are usually set widely apart. Suitable for dresses or outfits with a deep décolleté or plunging neckline, like a blouse or dress. Unlike push-up bras, are not generally as heavily padded.
Plunge bra
Bullet bra: A full-support bra with cups in the shape of a paraboloid with its axis perpendicular to the breast. The bullet bra usually features concentric circles or spirals of decorative stitching centred on the nipples. Invented in the late-1940s, they became popular in the 1950s due to ‘sweater girl’ pin ups. Madonna wore a bullet bra designed by Jean Paul Gaultier during her Blonde Ambition Tour which generated popular interest in vintage fashion. Vintage lingerie company What Katie Did was the first company to put the bullet bra back into production in 1999, and it has again grown in popularity with brands such as Marks and Spencer, Rigby and Peller and Naturana producing their own version of the bullet bra.
Bullet bra
Contour bra: Sometimes referred to as a molded-cup bra. Contour bras sometimes contain underwire. They have seamless, pre-formed cups containing a foam or other lining that helps define and hold the cup’s shape, even when not being worn. May be available as full-cup, demi-cup, push-up, or in other styles. Can be useful when breasts are asymmetrical (which is common – up to 25% of women’s breasts are asymmetric or with enlarged or differently shaped nipples who want to create a symmetrical silhouette.
Contour bra
Leisure bra: Sometimes referred to as a sleep bra. These are very soft, stretchy, comfortable easy-to-wear bras that do not provide much support, suitable as everyday wear for small busts.They are an alternative to going braless and intended for wear at home when relaxing or asleep. With a large bust, bra support may increase comfort during sleep.
Leisure bra
Male bra: Worn by men with enlarged breasts. Usually designed to flatten and conceal the breasts rather than to lift and support them.
Male bra
Cupless bra: A cupless bra is a brassiere design composed of a frame with no support cups, or a bra which exposes the nipples with notched or contoured support cups. Usually worn as erotic lingerie, a cupless bra can cause the shape of the nipples to be prominently visible on an outer garment. The most common variant is a shelf bra, which is essentially a rigid band (underwired) along the inframammary line, that pushes up without actually covering any, or only a thin strip of the breast. A brassiere with partial cups that don’t cover the nipples is called an open cup bra.
Cupless bra
Underwire bra: Many bra designs feature a thin, semi-circular strip of rigid material that helps support the breast. The wire may be made of either metal, plastic or resin. It is sewn into the bra fabric and under each cup, from the center gore to under the wearer’s armpit.
Underwire bra
Shutter bra: Common in the 1940s and 1950s. The “shutter” refers to the flaps of cloth above each cup that can either be left folded down over the cup or can be hooked to each other to hide the cleavage as would a camisole.
Shutter bra
Posture bra: A posture bra, sometimes called a posture brace, is a bra intended to keep the spine in proper alignment, promoting good posture and possibly reducing pain. Most posture bras use strong, reinforced bands of material in the back, as well as extra support in the front and sides to help carry some of the weight that the muscles of the back would otherwise have to support. Most posture bras use a front-closure design, due to the extra reinforced fabric in the back, but some do offer back closures. One can often purchase a posture bra for close to the same price as a regular bra, though some models might be more expensive.
Posture bra (Front side)Posture bra (Back side)
Plus size bra: Plus Size Bras are perfect for women whose cup size or band size is larger than average. Celebrate your curves with a bra that fits just right! If you have a larger band or cup size, don’t settle for ill-fitting bras. At Risque, we’ve found that most women simply don’t fit in so-called “average” bra sizes. Whether you are bigger than a D cup or need a larger band size, you’re not alone! Plus size bras provide the support and shaping full-figured women need.
Plus size bra
Wireless Bra: Wireless bras are great for comfortable support. If you don’t like the feeling of that constricting, sometimes painful underwire, wireless bras are a great option for creating an almost identical look with a more relaxed feel. Wear a wire-free bra as you would any other! They’re lightweight but still look great under tops, wrap dresses, sweat shirts, and pajamas for those of you who wear bras to bed. If you’re looking for shape, choose a wireless bra that is lined and has smooth fabric. If you like how wireless bras feel and aren’t looking for support, lace bralettes are a great way to go.
Wireless Bra
Bullet proof bra: It is a new kind of Wonderbra which could help protect thousands of women police officers. Besides, normal bras can be dangerous when worn in combination with a bullet-proof vest. The impact of a bullet can push the metal and plastic bits of the bra into an officer’s body, causing serious injury so such type of bra is used.
Bullet proof bra
Bralette: A lightweight, simple design, usually an unlined, soft-cup pullover style bra. The breasts are covered but the bra offers little, if any, real support and is suitable for small busts. Sometimes sold built into a camisole. This style is often used by preadolescent girls as a training bra. Similar to bandeau.
Bralette
Longline Bra: Longline bras are bras that extend from the bustline to the waist or hipline. Longlines offer extra support and shaping. Longline bras are great for bridal bras, under formal wear, or even as everyday bras. Looking for a special occasion bra that instantly makes you look slimmer and provides great support? A longline bra is just what you are looking for! Longline bras are especially made to provide maximum support and great shaping, even for larger sizes. Longline bras are very comfortable so you don’t have to restrict movement, and go unnoticed so you can be free of worries. This type of bra is just right for unforgiving dresses and strapless gowns.
Longline Bra
Lace Bra: Your lingerie collection isn’t complete without a Lace bra. Whether it’s classic and elegant or sexy and sheer, a bra with lace cups is always beautiful. Lace bras are usually sheer or feature a lace top lined with an opaque backing fabric. A lace bra can have just touches of lace details and lace trim, or are completely sheer with full lace construction. Depending on your personal style you can get a lace bra that’s simple and classic or a bra with lots of eye-catching detail. Pairing a lace bra with lace panties creates a fabulously feminine look. Whichever lace bra you choose, lacy lingerie will certainly make you feel sexy.
Lace Bra
Soft cup bra: A practical design that does not use underwire for support. Traditionally regarded as offering less support than underwire models, soft-cup bras now offer competitive support and shaping. This is accomplished by using crisscross frames, inner under-cup slings that rise no more than half the height of the cup itself, and padding or lining the bra cup with 2-ply, molded, lined, or seamed material.
