A comfortable, supportive sports bra is a necessity in every women’s athletic wardrobe, but not all bras are created equal. To cater to women of all shapes and sizes, designers of athletic wear need to consider the needs of various cup sizes and expect to make a couple of different styles. Here are the pillars to build upon for a solid design.

The Staples of a Useful Sports Bra

1. Support

When you invest in a quality sports bra, you need it to offer support during workouts, no matter what cup size you are. The best styles do so with cup design:

• Cupless bras are the most common sports bra on the market. They’re usually best for A and B cup sizes due to their targeted compression and thick bottom band, but they often don’t cut it for women with C-cups or larger. The biggest complaints are that a cupless bra’s single, non-divided bust area is unflattering—creating the dreaded “uniboob”—and by extension, it doesn’t offer enough support with its stretch spandex design.
• Underwire offers structure to a sports bra, making it the most supportive for women with larger busts. That structure can make them feel inflexible, though, which can be uncomfortable for tougher workouts.
• Molded cups do the same job as underwire with firmer fabric in place of wire, making them more willing to move with you through intense cardio, HIIT training, or otherwise. They are a crowd-favorite for bigger cup sizes looking for comfort and support.

2. Design

Most sports bras come in a pullover style—one garment that you pull over your head—but as the athletic wear industry continues to cater to larger bust sizes, you can find other types. Zip-front designs are an increasingly common feature on high-impact bras because they are easier to take on and off and provide additional support with a tighter stretch of the spandex. Meanwhile, the classic clasp-back from standard bras have found their way in sport bra designs as well, allowing a more custom fit for that supportive bottom bust band.

In comparison, the options for straps on sports bras are vastly more extensive. Racerback style is a classic favorite, with Y-back, H-back, and cross-back straps also as regular contenders. With straps, the most crucial element of support is their width; when designing for larger bust sizes, opt for a thicker strap made in a spandex fabric with less give to make sure everything stays in place.

3. Breathability

Like with any athletic wear, moisture-wicking fabrics are a given for sports bras. Spandex, nylon, and polyester (or any blend of the three) are the best options for design, as they’re flexible and sweat-resistant, making for a comfortable, breathable fabric that can handle any workout regimen.

Mesh panels and keyhole cutouts are popular elements in sports bra design as of late, but they’re more than just trendy additions. They are great ways to incorporate breathability into the design and allow sweat to ventilate, so you stay cool and comfortable.

Fabrics that work best for sports bras—particularly spandex blends—come in a variety of colors and patterns, which can add a fun pop of color to any workout look. For a vast selection to choose from, Spandex House, Inc. in Manhattan’s Garment District is the place to shop. Their team are the industry experts on a spandex material and will help you find the perfect stretch fabric for your project’s needs. For more information about their inventory and to request a quote, visit their website or call (212) 354-6711.