How we make bras that fit beautifully

And while we’re opening that design room door, we’ll be revealing how our creative team find their inspiration and apply their expertise to create some of the most beautifully fitting bras around.

We’re proud to be one of the few bra makers to keep the whole design process in-house – and we can only do that with our fabulous design team. There are very few specialist bra designers in the UK, and we have two of them!

With over 18 years’ experience in the industry, Design Manager Gemma de Diego has been with Royce Lingerie for 14 years in a design capacity.

Demi Venter came to Royce straight from university and now has four years at the business under her belt. Working exclusively with wirefree bras.

What they don’t know about how to create a beautifully fitting bra, isn’t worth knowing.

It’s been an exceptionally busy year so far with several new styles hitting the rails in the past few months – from post-surgery bra Fearne to new teen bras Lola and Sophia. Best-sellers have also been launched in new colours including classic black and ivory versions of Maisie, Comfi-Bra in blush, and nursing bra Indie in lilac. There are also two brand new styles launching in the next few months (but more on that later…).

Designing wirefree bras isn’t without its challenges

Gemma and Demi visit trade shows to get the lowdown on the latest trends, as well as keep an eye on competitors in the industry, before creating concepts that fit the Royce brand. Even though Royce isn’t a fast fashion brand we still try to stick to seasonal colours and trends that will appeal to our customers.

Those customers are also a valuable source of inspiration. “We have focus groups in-house to talk through new ideas and highlight where we might be missing something in our range,” says Gemma.

So where do the design team find inspiration?

Designing wirefree bras isn’t without its challenges

“Our range goes up to a true L cup, so it requires a lot of clever pattern cutting and wear testing to make sure we’re getting a good level of support without a wire,” explains Gemma.

Demi adds, “Sometimes our ideas don’t always work out how we want them to. For example, certain fabrics or fastenings can negatively affect the fit.” However, the team see all challenges as a chance to learn and improve, whatever their level of expertise. “When we find a solution for a bra that’s proving particularly challenging in the fit, that’s my favourite part of the design process,” says Gemma.

“You’re learning every day,” adds Demi. “Problem solving is a big part of our job and we always come together and work as a team to find a better solution. It’s wonderful when a bra is on a real body, you work on the fit to get it just right and see your design come to life.”

Both Gemma and Demi believe high-quality fabrics and components, all industry standard OEKO-TEX approved, are crucial to ensuring a design does what it’s supposed to. The team will also wash test to make sure bras will last.

But collaborating with real women of all shapes and sizes unlocks the finer detail. “Using our valued customers to wear test our bras through the whole design process gives us the honest feedback we need,” says Demi. “We care what our customers think about our bras and how they feel in them – this helps us perfect the fit.”

Gemma recommends women check the underband of a bra as it’s where a surprising 80% of the support comes from – ensuring it lies flat across the back, with no riding up, is key.

But a lot can be down to women paying too much attention to those numbers and letters on the size label. “I’ve noticed that when a woman has been a particular size for years she often gets a shock if a refitting shows she’s gone from a D to an F cup, for instance,” says Demi. “They instantly feel ‘bigger’ and force themselves into their old size bra which isn’t giving them the best fit and support. It’s just a number or letter – it makes a massive difference to your everyday life when you wear the right size.”

Gemma agrees, adding, “Where possible, get professionally fitted and go in with an open mind. Most women don’t get refitted often enough so may go in wearing a 38C but leave in a 34E which is so much better for them.”

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Here are a few new styles hitting stores and our online shop in the next few weeks and months…

Charlotte – this customer favourite will be available in a new blush shade, in both our Comfort and Maternity ranges, from this week!

Indie – this lace trimmed bra (previously only available as a nursing bra) will be available in both petrol blue and lilac in our Post-Surgery range in October!

Robyn – a great new bra for fuller cups featuring embroidered edging, non-moulded cups and wider straps for comfortable support (available in November)!

Blossom – the 2-way, triple-cup sized maternity and nursing favourite will be available in leopard print from December!

Aerocool – the game-changing high-impact sports bra for G-K cups will be available in classic black from January 2023!