{"id":10114,"date":"2017-11-07T13:29:42","date_gmt":"2017-11-07T18:29:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/?p=10114"},"modified":"2017-11-07T13:29:42","modified_gmt":"2017-11-07T18:29:42","slug":"building-better-bra","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2017\/11\/building-better-bra\/","title":{"rendered":"Building a Better Bra"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Written by Cameron Walker<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s almost a rule that the more attractive a bra is, the less comfortable it feels — and vice versa. A bra that doesn\u2019t cause shoulder or back pain, supports the breasts and allows freedom of movement has all the aesthetic appeal of an ACE bandage, while a bra built for looks is as pleasant to wear as a stiletto heel. NC State<\/a> Wilson College of Textiles<\/a> student Sophie Nunno-Gorbachev \u201819 believes there is a better way, and, as the recent recipient of a grant from the Office of Undergraduate Research<\/a>, she is well on her way to designing a bra that marries form and function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt all started with an idea to make a bra that’s both supportive for women with larger breasts and also attractive, because it seems like most bras don’t have both,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Nunno-Gorbachev is a junior working toward a degree in the <\/span>Fashion and Textile Management <\/span><\/a>program with a concentration in Fashion Development and Product Management, but has had her idea for an improved bra design since her early teens.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was in high school when I had this idea, but I could never actually make it a reality until I came to the Wilson College of Textiles,\u201d she said. \u201cI’m just really excited to be working on this project…I’ve had this idea for about four years and now I can finally start researching and working on it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n She has been busy this semester; under the advisement of <\/span>Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management<\/span><\/a> professor <\/span>Dr. Cynthia Istook<\/span><\/a>, she has been reaching out to experts in academia and industry, doing patent research, conducting a literature review, evaluating product in the marketplace and collecting more than 200 responses to a preliminary survey (still open — click <\/span>here<\/span><\/a> to participate). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDr. Istook is my mentor — she is amazing and has been showing me all of the ins and outs of the industry and what I need to do to turn this idea into an actual prototype,\u201dshe said.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n