Yahoo Lifestyle Searching for the perfect maternity bra?
WHO: Gina Kun, mum to Joshua, five, and Sophia, 18 months.
WAS: A mental-health worker.
NOW: Creator of the Discretion bra and winner of one of five Huggies MumInspired business grants of $20,000.
As first-time mums soon find out, when you have a baby and your breasts fill with milk, they become pretty heavy! I wanted a bra that supported my breasts and gave me more privacy while I was feeding. With the Discretion bra, only the nipple and areola are exposed for feeding and the breast doesn’t drop down, so it looks like you’re still wearing a tank top when you’ve got your bub at the boob. Also, because of the layers, it’s a very supportive bra and looks great under clothes, plus it keeps your breasts looking perky.
When did the idea strike?
When I had my son, Joshua, any time we went out in public it was cumbersome to feed him because none of my bras supported the breast I was feeding from. I felt like I needed four more hands, to be able to hold Joshua, my breast and the blanket I used to cover myself. As a result of this, I only ended up feeding him for 11 weeks and felt like I had failed at the first thing I was meant to do as a mother.
Starting out
I decided to take to one of my old bras with a pair of scissors. I started cutting holes in it, got some material and borrowed a sewing machine. It was then that I realised I didn’t have a sewing bone in my body, so I stuck to sketching designs and ideas, and found a local seamstress to help me. Then I started looking into getting a prototype and finding a manufacturer.
Spreading the word
Facebook is a wonderful thing – it gets your message out to a lot of people!
And now?
I have my prototype – I can’t believe it! There are a few little tweaks to make so that it’s perfect. Then, thanks to the Huggies grant, I’ll be able to place my first order. My next step will be to get a fashion agent, and hopefully we’ll have the Discretion bra out in stores by March or April next year. I’ll also set up a website early in the new year.
How do the kids fit in?
I only had Joshua when I started working on the prototype (now I have Sophia, too). I didlots of work while he was napping and at night.
The best bits
When I finally got the first prototype, I just couldn’t believe it. It was perfect! Now it’s becoming a reality. Also, being able to help other mums will be great, because that’s how the idea first came about.
The hardest part
The part that made me come to a standstill was the finance bit. Luckily, a friend told me about the Huggies MumInspired contest and I managed to get my entry in the day before the due date. I couldn’t believe I was one of the winners – out of 1200 applicants.
Other great Mumpreneurs:
