Interesting article on why bras can be so expensive

[Johndoe1]

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/cost-of-lingerie-explainer

[taxmapper]

No, try more like its pure capitalism. 

(I am NO socialist BTW). 
But profiteering. 

Boobs need bras, so your a captive audience. 

[Orb]

I don't intend to step on toes but understand the manufacturing of a garment can increase in cost with an added level of difficulty.  Also all clothing is made to fit, be worn for, and by, half of the population.

[SideSet]

Good article. And I found it interesting it was in Teenvogue magazine.  If I came across this article when I was a teenager, I would’ve read it, as back then I read everything I could about bras. Well, not just bras, but pantyhose and girdles, also. Joyce DeWitt in her pantyhose; I Can’t Believe it’s a Girdle.😘 I did not see much about panties or stockings, though. 😕

[Gino]

I worked in a garment factory (here in the U.S.) and much of the article is spot on, however the comment "All lingerie is handmade" is a bit disingenuous. AFAIK, ALL garments are hand made, all operations are broken down to small operations, and not one garment is EVER made by one person unless it's custom or designer made.

The factory I worked in started with spooled yarn an then:

The material was woven by machine, hand cut to a pattern, "thermo set" (in an oven to preshrink) and sent to many specialized seamstresses who only performed one operation and were paid by the piece according to the difficulty of the operation.

From memory from highest paid to lowest they were: zippers, collars (with labels), sleeve cuffs, garment seams, button holes and button fastening.

The process is unbelievably efficient, with the correct number of seamstresses at each operation to not cause bottlenecks in flow.

That said, the markup on Asian made stuff is astronomical. My ex and I were in Korea (last century) and brand name bras, sneakers, clothes etc. were being sold in "night markets" for five to under ten dollars. These were made kinda like a Robin Hood operation... "steal manufacturing facility that someone else paid for" The U.S company paid to setup an assembly line or paid a "tooling charge" and the orders were filled in the number of shifts needed to fill the order. If the assembly line produced a sufficient quantity in one shift, the manufacturer could easily run a second shift (or third) to make knock offs of the EXACT product with many of the same employees, and this is where a lot of the counterfeit or re-branded identical stuff comes from.

Question? If the education and "degree" that is required is so lauded, why in the world do I fit perfectly in some bras marked 34C, 36A, 36B, and 38A? (my best  fit is 38A and sister size 36B) not to mention the variability of band size variations, this is ridiculous. Imagine getting tires for your car with such loose standards that you'd have to try them all on the rim to see if they fit? OK, I "get" sister sizes, and that boobs can have very different "shapes"  but volume is still volume and cup sizes that can vary so much is not a sign that the degree the designer holds is worth very much.

[aboywithgirls]

Bras definitely can be expensive!!! Especially when you get into the G+ cup range. 

The present company excluded from the following, but, I often wonder what I would spend my money on if I didn't need to wear a bra! I typically spend $75-$100 on a bra.

As expensive as a good bra is, when I put my 36H on in the morning, I know that I ask alot of it for the next 16 hours to keep me comfortable, supported, and give me the shape that I want to maintain throughout my day. Keeping that in mind, I don't mind spending that money on something that I consider to be essential. 

Love you guys 🤗🥰😍💋

Sophie ❤️

[blad]

Bras are cheaper than a good bottle of scotch and last longer!

[Gino]

Bras are cheaper than a good bottle of scotch and last longer!

Yes, they are cheaper than a good bottle of scotch but in my case the scotch lasts longer :-) I moved into my house some 15 years ago and bought some liquor to have here just in case, all remain unopened. 

 

[aboywithgirls]

Bras are cheaper than a good bottle of scotch and last longer!

In alot of ways a bra fitting is very similar to a scotch tasting. You get to sample the product prior to making a purchase. You will be able to consult with someone who is knowledgeable about the products that they sell. And....usually the more money you spend, the better product you get.

Sophie ❤️

[Orb]

I would agree with Sophie.  Perhaps that would make it easier for some guys to get a fitting.  Scotch and a fitting all inclusive. 

I began spending a bit more for a quality bra and find it so much nicer, comfortable and better looking.