This mechanism is defined in this study as “responsive behavior.” The moisture- induced changes at the material level should preserve the functional properties of the sports bra, such as breast support and perceived bra comfort, through both dry and wet conditions. Instead of drying out the perspiration of the wearer by using moisture wicking fibers and fabrics, as it is the current design practice, a responsive solution is required to absorb the perspiration back into the system. Like the functional hierarchy found in the natural systems, a typical sports bra design has several layers of materials (fiber, yarn, and fabric), constituting inter-related subsystems that react when the wearer moves, sweats, and eventually dries out. Biomimetics represents the convergence between biology and engineering, and its applicability to various product design challenges offers opportunities for knowledge transfer between domains, as well as the potential emergence of a new body of knowledge (Cohen and Reich 2016).īiological systems have been found to offer feasible design analogies to functional apparel design, because they manifest responsive behavior when actuated by environmental factors such as light, moisture, pressure, and motion ( Frumkin et al. However, many of the innovations in textiles and materials with adaptive and responsive properties have been informed by biomimicry, or biomimetics, which is an emerging theoretical design framework “that seeks sustainable solutions by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies” (Frumkin et al. In the design of functional apparel, the evidence-based methods combined with the creative processes of fashion design frame the traditional user-centered design approach (Watkins and Dunne 2015). Although major developments in fiber and textile technologies have been employed to improve sports bra design and its functional properties, the sports bra industry is struggling to offer an adaptable and responsive design, which can support the breasts during high impact sports, such as running, and also feeling comfortable during rest (Burnett et al. Generally, sports bras are designed to provide increased levels of support to a woman’s breasts, often by compression, in order to restrict movement of the breasts during exercise, at the expense of comfort during resting activities (Dhanapala 2015). For women participating in exercise, breast support is crucial, and consumers regard this feature as the main function of a sports bra (McGhee et al. The consumer practice shift of wearing activewear apparel during everyday activities, called athleisure, led to a change in expected comfort and functionality of a key clothing item, such as the sports bra (Dhanapala 2015). Adjustments to the underbust band tightness should be pursued, aiming to further improve sports bra functionality, promoting women health and their lifestyles. The moisture responsive panels inside the bra absorbed the sweat generated during running, making the fabric thicker when wet (statistically significant via 3D body scanning results), while maintaining comfort and perceived breast support through sweaty conditions (confirmed via questionnaire results). Fourteen sports bras were developed and wear- tested using college athletes. A biomimetic design framework guided the conceptual phase, and moisture responsive plant biomechanics offered a feasible functional model. The purpose of this study was to design, develop, and evaluate a sports bra that offers responsive behavior, in terms of breast support and comfort, both during rest and running conditions. Women prefer to wear a sports bra not only for exercising, but also during resting and daily activities, highlighting deficiencies in current sports bra designs.
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