Finding a bra that’s both comfortable and stylish is a challenge for anyone, but when you’re blessed in the chest, it can feel like hunting for a unicorn—rare, elusive, and maybe even mythical. So, we were delighted to discover Sugar Candy, a bra company that has changed big bra design with their patented U-Sling technology, proving that the perfect bra isn’t a myth after all!
In our quest to uncover the truth behind their closely guarded secret, we’re interrog—er, interviewing—Katie Brooker, the head designer and fit technician for Sugar Candy!
Welcome, Katie! What’s one misconception about big cup bras that you’d love to debunk?
Katie: Lack of support doesn’t always mean comfort. Many people, particularly those with smaller busts, believe that a soft and stretchy bra is the epitome of comfort. However, if you have a larger bust, you already know that true comfort comes from feeling secure and supported – when your breasts aren’t pulling down on your shoulders, bouncing against your belly, trapped together creating sweat, stretching your skin, or straining your ligaments with even the smallest movement.
Can you tell us more about your patented U-Sling technology and how it provides lift and support without wires?
Katie: I won’t reveal all our secrets, hence the patent, but I can tell you there’s a system of structural elements that mimic the shape and support of the wire, without actually having one. There’s also our clever U-Sling technology, which consists of a folded-edge platform and side sling, which works wonders to lift and separate a larger bust, without needing a wire.
It’s basically gravity-defying engineering for your boobs.
What challenges did you face when designing bras for fuller busts, and how did you overcome them?
Katie: A fuller bust bra usually includes various support features like a reinforced center front, sturdy side wings, a structured wire, a firm lower cup, a power mesh back wing, a wide hook-and-eye closure, and supportive straps. However, many of these common components can often lead to discomfort. So, designing a bra that eliminates those elements was a rewarding challenge, leading to the creation of an entirely new support system that’s wire-free! Other challenges included making the under band more supportive to relieve strain on the shoulders, while ensuring the bra maintained support without sacrificing style by avoiding an overly matronly appearance with chastity-like coverage or straps wider than a Mack truck.
Sugar Candy is a bra company that has changed big bra design with their patented U-Sling technology, proving that the perfect bra isn’t a myth after all!
Unhooked Magazine
How do you balance comfort, support, and style in your designs?
Katie: This can be tricky! Often you have to sacrifice one or two of these to achieve the other. The way we ensure we hit all three is by never compromising on quality. From our fabrication and elastics to our metal accessories, we select the highest quality and most long-wearing options on the market. Our bras are seamlessly knitted using Nilit 6.6 yarn, which is extremely durable and luxuriously soft, and all our accessories are nickel-free which means they’re safe for people with allergies.
Sugar Candy’s Patented Secret to Ultimate Support!
These high-tech fabrics defy gravity—so advanced, they might as well be for space travel.
Katie Brooker, Sugar Candy
You’ve been designing bras for over 15 years. How has the lingerie industry evolved during this time, particularly for fuller busts?
Katie: It’s been 15 years where I am currently, but it’s actually been more like 25 years, but who’s counting? An architect can only design within the realm of what’s available for them to construct with. The same applies to the lingerie industry, which has seen an increase in new construction technologies such as molding, bonding, and 3D injection.
Sugar Candy: Defying Gravity & Saving the Planet!
What other advancements in fabric technology and sustainability influenced your approach to designing bras, especially when it comes to support and longevity?
Katie: The materials for construction are also making significant advances with technical laces, laminated and spacer fabrics, as well as circular knitting foundations and the technical improvement of yarns that could just as easily be for space travel, as they defy gravity so well. There has been a significant shift in environmental influence, which means a greater emphasis is now placed not only on initial waste, but also on renewing or recycling yarns and fabrics. This field excites me immensely, as I aim to design something that will be a staple in your wardrobe—something you can rely on and that won’t end up in a landfill after only a short period of wear.
A bra that brings comfort, support—and happy tears!
What feedback from your customers has been the most rewarding or surprising?
Katie: I’m a bit of an emotional bunny and always get a tear in my eye when reading the reviews. Phrases like ‘game-changer’, ‘why didn’t I try this sooner’, ‘I’m never taking it off’, and the occasional ‘hallelujah’ just give me warm fuzzies all over. The clincher for me is when I hear about a customer who was considering a breast reduction but changed their mind after experiencing the relief that the Sugar Candy bra has provided them.
I could cry with joy over how comfortable and supportive this bra is. Thank you, Sugar Candy, for giving me some hope in this bra forsaken world!
Sugar Candy customer review
Why do you think the lingerie industry has historically overlooked women with fuller busts?
Katie: You pay the same amount for a 32B as you do for a 42G, so obviously it’s much cheaper and easier for brands to make an itty-bitty bra with narrow straps, minimal support, and less fabric than it is to develop a larger size that will actually provide comfortable support, not to mention the amount of fabric being used to cut the larger pattern pieces. The more sizes you need to grade and fit test, the more costly and time consuming the process.
That’s why some of the larger brands that will go unmentioned have spent years brainwashing people into believing that DD is as busty as it comes. It’s better for their bottom line.
Sustainability is clearly a big part of Sugar Candy Bra’s ethos. What inspired you to prioritize eco-conscious practices in your production process?
Katie: I’ve always been a bit of a hippie at heart and try to be as eco-friendly in my home life as possible, such as walking instead of driving to the shops, designing a solar passive home, buying in bulk, and recycling whenever possible. I’d be a hypocrite if what I designed had a counteractive impact on the environment. The team at Sugar Candy is all on the same page, not only regarding the production process, but also concerning the energy we use at headquarters and the non-plastic packaging we choose.
Sustainable by Design: Sugar Candy’s Eco-Conscious Commitment
Your waste-minimizing production method is fascinating! Can you walk us through how seamlessly knitting bras to size helps reduce waste?
Katie: The typical process of making a bra involves transforming yarn into fabric, cutting out pattern pieces, sewing them together, molding, if necessary, followed by additional sewing to complete the garment. This not only creates an extra waste of fabrics, materials, and lace, but it also results in an avoidable waste of dye into the environment before the cutting process begins.
In contrast, seamless knitting goes directly from yarn to tube. Each tube knitted and dyed corresponds to a specific band size. The bra is then finished with molding, sewing and attaching accessories.
Repurposing offcuts to create the bra’s inner slings is such an innovative touch. How did this idea come about?
Katie: The slings were initially made from a different fabric, as they needed to be stronger than the garment’s tube. While I was walking the factory floor during production trials, I noticed the wastage being cut and discarded. I grabbed a few pieces and made them work for the slings. The necessary strength now comes from an extra power mesh layer within the folded edge of the sling.
The secret to the unstoppable support Of Sugar Candy bras? An extra power mesh layer hidden within the folded edge of the sling!
Katie Brooker, designer & fit technician, Sugar Candy
Durability is a key part of sustainability. What makes your Softex NILIT™ 6.6 yarn so special in ensuring long-lasting wear?
Katie: It’s not just the microfiber yarn that makes it so durable; it’s the high elastane content blended with it that ensures it stretches and recovers not only throughout the day but wear after wear and wash after wash. The elastane is the part of the fabric that stretches; a lower percentage means more strain on the remaining fibers, making it more likely to break, which results in the garment stretching out. If the bra is saggy and stretched out, you won’t want to wear it. This bra features plenty of added layers, structured straps, and reinforcements that help maintain its original condition, ensuring it’s durable and can be worn for longer, rather than ending up in landfill.
Testing for Perfection: How Sugar Candy Guarantees Durability and Comfort
Rigorous fit and wear tests sound intense! How do you ensure each bra meets your high standards for durability and comfort?
Katie: We undertake extensive quality control to ensure each and every garment meets our high standards. We have criteria of quite extreme processes that the bra must undergo during the development stage to ensure it performs well in the hands of our customers once produced en masse. This also meant we couldn’t launch it right after development was finished. We had to wait patiently for the test results from the wear and wash testers, which took about six months to arrive. This time allowed us to make any necessary adjustments. Our goal is to ensure that the final product not only meets but exceeds the highest standards to keep our customer satisfied.
We also conduct quality control at every point of the production process, from receiving the yarn in-house, assessing the cups’ molds, bar tack and sewing checks, to packing inspections and a final check before it’s sent to the customer. Pedantic, aren’t we?
Sugar Candy Customer Raves: Real Stories of Confidence and Comfort
Being Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified is impressive. Why was it important for Sugar Candy Bra to achieve this certification?
Katie: Thank you! Our opinion is that all goods sold worldwide should have this certification, so that consumers know their purchases aren’t harming the environment or themselves.
We could’ve saved a few dollars with cheap plastic mailers, but we refuse to compromise our planet. After months of research, we chose only recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable materials—because protecting our future is priceless.
Katie Brooker, Designer, Sugar Candy
Running your HQ on solar energy is a huge step towards sustainability. What challenges and rewards have come with that shift?
Katie: I would say just rewards. We have a massive roof over the warehouse, providing plenty of space to install numerous panels and capture a lot of Aussie sunrays. We don’t use much power, so we store a significant amount of it, and the staff can charge their cars as well. It’s a win-win!
Sustainable Packaging: No Compromises, Just Eco-Friendly Choices
Eco-friendly packaging is often overlooked in fashion. How did you approach designing packaging that’s both functional and sustainable?
Katie: Our goal when overhauling our packaging was to ensure every component was either recyclable, biodegradable or compostable. We scoured the web for months to weigh up our options and ultimately landed on recycled and recyclable cardboard mailer bags, soy-based inks for our branding and eco-compliant adhesive to reinforce any bags that are bursting at the seams. As we’ve grown, some of our orders exceed what can fit in these mailers, so we have some beautiful boxes on the way that use all the same materials!
Sure, it would be a lot cheaper to use generic plastic mailer bags, but this is an area we’re not willing to compromise on.
You mention that you’re always learning and evolving your sustainability practices. What’s next on the horizon for Sugar Candy Bra’s eco-friendly journey?
Katie: As our world grows more aware of the importance of being environmentally friendly, it’s exciting for us to embrace these changes and do our part. Not only are we striving to make the world a better place, but we’re also so proud to be at the forefront of these efforts. It’s amazing how much technology has advanced with the environment in mind! We’re constantly exploring new ways to minimize our carbon footprint, from running our headquarters entirely on solar power, to exploring sustainable materials and packaging. Stay tuned for what’s next!
Last, but Not Least: A Personal Journey to Revolutionizing Support
On a personal note! Sugar Candy has revolutionized wire-free bras for fuller busts. What inspired you to focus exclusively on F cup and above?
Katie: My sister had to undergo a reduction when she was 19 due to her large, heavy breasts on her small-framed, developing body, which contributed to scoliosis. She struggled to find a bra that was both supportive and comfortable, and her body suffered in its development because of this. Although I couldn’t help her at the time, I made it my mission to assist others who faced similar challenges.
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