Elyse Kaye @ Bloom Bras is supporting 100% of "unsupported" active women in US
I stay motivated by... seeing so many different body types and women wearing the product, the positive reactions and suggestions for future, the vision of changing a dated industry.
Three adjectives that describe me are... Loyal, motivated, resilient
If I could have dinner with one person (dead or alive) it would be... Oprah. She continuously invents and reinvents herself and her brand. She does not make apologies for flaws and has overcome every challenge thrown her way with grace. Oprah's messages span ages, races, sizes and each woman can relate to her struggles. We want to see her laugh and succeed but also can relate when the tears stream. I would love to speak with her about overcoming obstacles, staying motivated and building an empire.
The most exciting innovation to me is... AI. We live in very cool times where nouns become verbs. Within the last 10 years, Facebook, Uber, AirBNB, Spanx have changed my day-to-day existence. I am jazzed up to see what else will emerge.
The average breast size has risen from a 34B to a 34DD in the past 20 years. The major brands – Nike, Lululemon, Athleta, Victoria Secret - only carry up to a D or DD leaving 50% of the active US female population unsupported. The sports bra simply does not cater to the well-endowed woman. The body changes on average 10% a month naturally. For a DDD, this is a full cup change. I brought together the minds from NASA, the shipping industry and a celebrity corsetry makers to address this as an engineering challenge. The Bloom Bra features patented lifting straps and cinching cups allowing the bra to customize to your body and exercise type. It has been designed without underwire, both for comfort and to address the health concerns. Working like a shelf to lift the breasts rather than squashing them, the Bloom Bra distributes weight throughout the back and sides rather than putting pressure over the shoulders and across the ribs, allowing for natural movement of the breast and uninterrupted circulation of the body’s essential systems. State-of-the-art compression materials and cooling, moisture-wicking power mesh combined with a reinforced front zipper to “lift, not squish”.
The reaction has been staggering with us selling out every time we get sizes in. We had 300K unique viewers to the FB page in 3 weeks without spending a dollar. Bloom Bras helped to build a sustainable factory. In addition, we are donating Bloom Bras to breast cancer survivors as we set our sights on creating a product to fill that growing market.
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How did you come up with the idea for Bloom Bras?
I developed Bloom Bras out of frustration after trying virtually every sports bra out there. It was clear that I was not alone in that quest.
When I started doing the research, I realized just how awful sports bras are and made a list of all of the pain points. I used to do what so many other women like me do - wear two sports bras at once or avoid certain exercises. When I ran my first half marathon, I had no skin left from the chafing and the hooks digging into my back. It was then that I knew that this was an engineering challenge, not a design flaw.
Throughout the development process, testing and prototyping on regular bodies - not fit models - was key.
90% of the weight falls into the band on a bra. By taking the burden off and distributing the weight differently, it gives the feeling of lifting, not squishing, which is how we came up with our tag line. The straps come to a point in the back, which pulls the weight and then spreads the weight throughout a mesh panel. The Bloom Bra uses state-of-the-art materials to eliminate the use of harmful underwire. One of my advisors from NASA helped to validate the design of the seams, which mimic the structure of the back so that the bra expands and contracts with the body.
What makes Bloom Bras unique from other sports bras?
The Bloom Bra features patented lifting straps and cinching cups, allowing the bra to customize to your body and exercise type. It has been designed without underwire, both for comfort and to address health concerns.
Working like a shelf to lift the breasts rather than squashing them, the Bloom Bra distributes weight throughout the back and sides rather than putting pressure over the shoulders and across the ribs, allowing for natural movement of the breast and uninterrupted circulation of the body’s essential systems. State-of-the-art compression materials and cooling, moisture-wicking power mesh combined with a reinforced front zipper to “lift, not squish”.
Each design element has a reason for being, but ultimately, it was about creating a bra that was comfortable, breathable, adjustable and did not feel like a suit of armor.
The bra is truly a convergence of science, technology and fashion. This is an industry that has lacked innovation. Bloom Bras will continue to provide solutions that are healthy, comfortable and designed for the evolving female population.
Was it difficult get capital/investors? Has anyone underestimated you as a female entrepreneur? If yes, how did you handle it?
There is no place like the bay area to start a company. This community - especially the entrepreneurial women - has been so inspiring. I put a note out on a Facebook page for women asking for ladies who wear certain bra sizes to come by to give feedback. I had 160 women respond immediately in San Francisco alone who came by to try on prototypes, gave me the critiques and encouragement to persevere through the toughest of times.
I have opted against raising money with the exception of crowdfunding, but there has been no shortage of inbound offers from people who believe in the success of the business. Women supporting women is the only way we are going to break some of the unfortunate trends that the valley is known for. I can fill books about my experiences of how difficult it is to be a woman in business but try to focus on how far we have come and continue to push the needle.
What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." This is one of my favorite quotes by Thomas Edison. The ups and the downs are dramatic. A good support system is the key. I went through three factories and countless setbacks in my journey so far and there will be more. Stay the course. Do not get distracted by shiny and new, nor should you get thrown when things seem like they cannot get any worse. Find great mentors. Celebrate the smallest of victories because no one else will. I just was a part of a panel last week with women who have been on my list of dream advisors.
If you do opt to fundraise, talk to those who have been there before. There are resources at your fingertips that will keep you focused on the task. Here is one of the published lists. Also, join networking groups. Some of my closest friends have emerged from talking to women who are in a similar stage.
What are your short/long term goals?
The new product development pipeline includes channel and product expansion. Using the patented functionality, the next three major categories include pre- and post-maternity (4 million new moms annually), breast cancer survivors who have gone through non-elective reconstructive surgery (1 in 8 women) and the ever-growing active senior population (over 20 million women).
Using our patented adjustable lifting system, we will be developing sleep shirts, athletic tops, and more. I am not building a company to sell, but hoping to disrupt an entire industry that should be all about empowering women. By incorporating tech into the space, I have no doubt Bloom Bras will thrive.