Tish Tily founded Melbourne-based speciality lingerie store She Science with one motivation: to help women feel comfortable and confident on and off the field. And she was prompted by her own personal struggles.
“From the age of 17, I wore bras so ill-fitting that they led me to undergo breast reduction surgery – a drastic step born out my discomfort and desperation,” Tily tells Broadsheet. “I knew back then that the products Australian women needed access to were available in many other countries but our retailers here were simply not selling them.”
Since launching in 2013, She Science now stocks 25 local and international industry-leading intimates brands from America, Germany and the UK online and in its Hawthorn East boutique. Along with everyday styles, the retailer has a particular focus on sports bras – “an often forgotten segment of the lingerie industry,” Tily says.
“Most retailers only [hold] two to five per cent of their stock in this category. Sports bras are a functional piece of equipment; if they don’t fit properly, they can’t perform their essential role.”
She Science offers 18 leading sports bra brands including Panache, Freya,Elomi, Shock Absorber and Anita Active. Unlike the constructions offered by large sportswear brands often offering styles in XS to XL, these specialised brands are produced according to cup and band sizes “so that fit and function can be optimised,” Tily explains.
Online customers can filter through styles to find their best fit by selecting their level of physical exercise from low to high impact; their preference for racerback or straight straps; band size; cup size; and other important features like wire-free, underwire, moulded or breast feeding-friendly options. Shock Absorber’s Active D+ Classic is a popular pick for high-impact compression support. As is the Anita Active Dynamic Star X-Back style.
“[Our customers] seek the perfect blend of comfort, support and style in [their] bras, often driven by specific needs such as post-maternity fitness, being a hard-to-find size or someone struggling with body confidence.”
Tily says the solution lies in personalised service, inclusive options and genuine care by trained bra fitters. She Science’s range covers a broad spectrum of sizes, extending up to a K-cup in some styles. But in general, most constructions cover women’s size six to 24.
If you’re in Melbourne, you can book an in-person fitting at the brand’s boutique to find your best fit. There’s even the option to treadmill-test styles. But if you’re shopping online, don’t worry. The website is complete with plenty of bra-fitting video tutorials, comprehensive guides on how to properly measure your bra size and other helpful information to guide you.
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