Nearly all woman own a few bras, and yet many are made with nylon or polyester, which emits microplastics in the washing machine, each time they are laundered. Most are also sold in plastic and can be itchy. And choosing to size a bra is so complicated, it almost needs a degree in quantum physics.
The first question to ask of a zero waster is ‘do we need a bra at all?’ No other species wears bras, and some people actually refuse to wear one, believing that healthy living and weight and some yoga poses can keep breasts perky on their own. Professor Jean-Denis Rouillan of France says that it’s not necessary to wear a bra (although women with larger breasts may find them more comfortable) as they can actually prevent breasts from growing or achieving their natural lift. One study of 330 volunteers who had their breasts measured over 15 years, found that women who did not wear bras actually had higher nipples than those who wore them.
Cassann Blake MD (an expert in breast health) says that although wearing a bra has no proof of giving you cancer, not wearing one also does not cause breasts to sag. So wear one for aesthetics or comfort, but not to stop droopy breasts.’Breast ptosis’ is not caused by breastfeeding, but a natural combination of weight gain or loss, pregnancy, smoking, aging and larger cup sizes. Experts say that the ‘perfect breast’ follows the rule of the Golden Triangle, in that the distance between both nipples should be the same as the distance from each nipple to the sternal notch (the bottom of the neck). Around 21cm.
Another issue is that most women wear the wrong bra size, simply because unless you can go and have a bra professionally measured, figuring out the size is made way too complicated. Also sports bras are best for people who jog or perform in sports.
To measure for a bra, stand upright and then measure around your back and under your bust to feel snug – that’s your band size (even number or round up to an even number if an odd size). Then measure the full bust and take away the band size. So is there’s no difference it’s AA, 1 inch is A, 2 inches is B, 3 inches is C, 4 inches is D, 5 inches is DD, 6 inches is F, 7 inches is G and so on.Put them together for your bra measurement.
The Very Good Bra is the world’s first zero waste brassiere. This is free from plastic and made from organic cotton or tencel, and can be composted at end of use with no waste. These botanically circular bras are available in 27 sizes and in beautiful colours.
