Description of Work

Support - 2022 - apparel - Not For Sale

Artist's Statement

Support is a thesis project centered around the question: How can women be more educated about proper sports bra fit? 

As a collegiate athlete on the women’s cross country and track team at BGSU I understand the importance of a properly fitted sports bra. In distance running, wearing a poorly fitted sports bra can cause women to lose up to 4 centimeters of stride length. Over the course of a marathon that adds up to running a whole extra mile. Support draws on my experience as an athlete and knowledge of the fashion industry to educate women on sports bra fit. 

A poorly fitted sports bra can cause significant discomfort and pain in women, which reduces their desire to take part in physical activity.  Ill-fitting sports bras are common among women (affecting approximately 85% of women) because the clothing industry has not standardized sports bra sizes among brands. Instead, sports bras are fitted to one size then proportionally scaled up (even though that is not how a women’s body works). Aside from that, women are not educated on how to fit a bra correctly. 

Support addresses sports bra fit education to help women find the best sports bras for their unique bodies. Support is a tool for women to properly check the fit of their sports bra before purchasing. I developed Support with visual measurements and reminders for proper fit, like measuring a 2-inch  stretch from skin to shoulder at the strap, or reminding there should be no gaps in the armpit area. Ideally, Support would be available for purchase and viewing in athletic stores, like Lululemon, Oiselle, and Athletica.

If you wish to purchase any of these pieces, please contact the gallery director, Jacqueline Nathan (jnathan@bgsu.edu.)