Well here we are again, this is raised again.
As you all probably know and possibly read in recent posts, even as far back as a few years, I have been campaigning for better lingerie for women of ALL sizes and cups to give us better more feminine ranges, especially when wearing prosthesis (I have been wearing two Amoena prosthesis for the past 4 years, and am a 32DD or 30E, and there are very few choices for small backs big cup sizes, as well as the opposite ends, and also smaller AAA cups, ). I have written and had meetings with loads of companies head offices, with regards to their ranges, including asking them where they do their research?? As when they say we do your size, and when they show me it, it is a push up balcony bra, I am sorry ladies but If I was to wear that type of bras, my prosthesis would be up at my neck and shoulders, I think it might be a bit noticeable when I am wearing a vest!! Also, as I am a Breast Cancer Care Support Volunteer, I speak with lots of women on body image, and most of my referral calls are about wearing prosthesis and where do they get lingerie to fit, so I have been doing lots of homework and knocking on companies doors hard enough for them to hear and listen, but it will take time, they say, I said that we dont need to know about what are good sales ranges, we just want to get a bra, especially In NICE COLOURS INSTEAD OF WHITE< BLACK, SKINTONE IN ALL RANGES, When they come out with nice colours, the size range is limited, why???
For each company that isnt interested on changing their ranges when I contact them, I contact them again in 3 months time, and will continue to do so until they get fed up of hearing from me and start doing something about what we want. There are however, some companies that are interested on getting it right, and have been getting my help, but they are restricted to what their Manufacturers can give them, but they are working on it, but at least they are stepping in the right direction.
I have been just as frustrated about this too, Although when I did an article in a national newspaper last year, on the problems we have with lingerie, I got several more companies asking for my help on getting their ranges, right, but I have said to them that I am happy to help but YOU need to listen to the users and not your sales targets!, I also said that they have to do some of the hard work too, and not just get it from me, as not getting paid for this.
however they have asked if there are ladies that are wanting to be trial tester wearers for their bras, as the more feedback on their ranges they get the more they can make them to what we need and want.
This includes high street and mail order companies.So if anyone wants to help these companies on Trial wearers then please let me know and I will talk to you more.
Also, during my searches lately, I came across a great site, called www.bettyandbelle.co.uk
They are two ladies that run this shop in England, and one of the ladies has had BCC and the other working on designing lingerie. They are really nice, and their lingerie ranges are good, including size ranges too. However their stock also includes Amoena, Royce, Anita, but they have such a good range. Please give their site a visit and let me know how you get on.
I will still be pushing for all companies to stock a wider ranges of lingerie in more styles and sizes, so I am not giving up, as I am only 42 years of age, and will be wearing these ‘prosthesis puppies’ the rest of my life, so I will be needing bras for a very long time, but I want more colours, instead of neutrals, and wearing coloured camisoles, vests over the top, to go under the coloured blouse or top I am wearing. !
I have a large amount of A4 folders full in my study at home of conversations to and fro between loads of lingerie companies with some good and some disappointments with regards to my campaign for better lingerie, so I am happy to continue adding to it, until ONE DAY they will ALL deliver what we want and need.
I am not giving up, so if I can help let me know and I will add.
C xx