Creating On’s First Bra - 4Qs with Apparel Designer Stefanie Herbstrith
On’s first ever sports bra has been in the works for more than two years. Apparel Designer Stefanie Herbstrith and Apparel Development Lead Fiona King spent countless hours in lab testing, fittings and iterating sample rounds. “This bra is an example that it’s not one woman's show,” Steffi says. “It needs all the departments to work really closely together.”
Bras are an essential piece of kit for many people — so what took so long? “We knew that it comes with greater challenges and we would only launch a new product if we can truly compete with the best sport bras out there.” Want to know more about how it got done? Keep reading for four hot q’s with Steffi on the creation of On’s first bra.
What is it like to work on the development of a completely new product for On?
At On, we have creative freedom that is way above industry standards. If we have different concepts on the table, the On team almost always goes for the most unconventional one. That’s a challenge but also a really inspiring journey. To create a product from the ground up includes a lot of research and testing. I remember when we got the first Lab testing results and we saw in black and white that our ideas were actually challenging some of the most established sports bras out there, it was great joy (and a bit of a relief 😊) after spending already so many hours on a product. I’m really curious to see how the range will grow and evolve over time.
With so many different personal preferences and body shapes, bras can be really polarizing. How did that affect the design thinking?
Because we know from personal experience how hard it can be to find the perfect sports bra, we started from the beginning to work in a research group of women. This direct feedback from interviews and the really personal experiences they shared was super valuable for my design journey. It was also really important for us to include many fittings and Lab testing in our full size range to be sure the bras offer adequate breast support in all of the sizes we offer.
These bras have been your focus for two years. Now what?
I’m also the designer for the Apparel Performance Running vertical which allows me to constantly collect feedback from our athletes. We try to follow up with design solutions for their needs so we can be accessible for even more body shapes and sizes in the future. The sports bra is my favorite product because by minimizing the breast movement, we can really have an impact on our athletes’ performances.
When you need to clear your mind or switch OFF, what do you do?
A jump into the Limmat River (just behind the On Labs!) or a nice dinner with friends.
Regional Sales Director, West Coast at On Running * runner * triathlete * ultra marathoner * advocate * volunteer * forager * maker * explorer and steward of the land
1yStefanie Herbstrith Fiona King i am absolutely LOVING my On Performanve Bra!! as a woman who has a larger breast shape, it’s always the dichotomy between feeling that you’re secure in your bra without feeling overly padded and weighted down by the bra. i’m always generally wearing a bra that is lighter and less bulky but then two sizes smaller than what i should be wearing to hold everything in place, which then cuts into your skin uugh!! i was new to On just as the Performance and Active Bras launched and naturally hesitant to switch up my gear for fear it would feel too padded and heavy. The Performance Bra delivers more than it even promises. i am able to wear the appropriate size and feel secure. it’s so light and moisture wicking that i hardly notice that i’m wearing it. in fact i’ve got to order a few more to add to the one i was seeded!! THANK YOU THANK YOU!! cannot wait to see what else is in store for the On Bra collection over the next few seasons.
Head of Design at Levy Merchandising_Founder at SLM Sportswear Design
1yFiona King amazing work! Very inspiring and super cool!
Can't wait to try one!
specialist in Performance Sportswear Design & sustainable matters FRSA
1yElliot - thought that this would be of interest to you...
Customer Success professional leveraging technology to help companies reduce costs and increase profit. | SaaS | Implementation | Project Management | Consultant
1yI cannot wait to get my hands on one. Didn't get to read the entire story yet, but will read on my commute tomorrow!