Kickstarter Brings Comfort with the 3D Scanned and Customized Digital Bra

October 25, 2015 by Michelle Matisons 3D Design 3D Scanning

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Do you remember shopping for your first bras? Frequently, someone will grab a tape measure and see what your bra size is based on width around and cup size. But bra sizing is still a really awkward process. Well, as many other kinds of products are being customized because of 3D scanning abilities, anyone frustrated by the quest for the perfect fitting bra can now go bra shopping in a completely different way than before.

Just like all of the 3D scanned and customized products that anyone following 3D scanning and printing is likely to read about, like prostheses and shoe inserts, you may not be surprised to hear about a new 3D scanning app for women’s bras. And believe me, there is probably a large market for this. Why? As the Digital Bra’s Kickstarter explains, it can be very difficult to find the right fitting bra.

What about an app that allows you to use the camera on your Smartphone to scan yourself and then order a Digital Bra, with optional matching underwear, or a few directly online using your scan information? This is the exact idea behind the Digital Bra. With the fundraising goal of £195,000 (about $296,000 USD), the Digital Bra has until November 27th to meet its goal. All of the smaller pledges and early bird specials are already gone, but you can still order bras and panties for £64 ($97 USD). There are also Mother and Daughter Specials and the an October Special to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month too.

But dropping $100 for a bra and panties seems like a lot, so what’s the attraction here? Advertised as the world’s “best fitting bra,” that is measured with unique technology, custom made, ordered online, and delivered directly to you, it’s convenient. And what else? The bras are custom-fitted, and believe it or not, a poorly fitting bra can cause health problems like back pain.

Founded by Judy van Niekerk, an “ex-frustrated bra wearer,” the Digital Bra team also includes Project Manager and IT guru Tiny van Niekerk, team member and CEO of Replica Labs Isaac Roberts, team member Voktorija Rudenia, team member and chiropractor at ML Chiropractic Dr. Barny Lucas, team members Paul Sohi and Mike Aubry with Autodesk and bringing Autodesk Fusion 360 into the picture, team member and president of Wildfire Workshops Inc. Teresa de Grosbois, and the Evolutionary Business Council.

How is the data, which will be images of the customers’ scanned body, protected by the company? According to the company founder, your scanned image isn’t uploaded to the website, only the data that is then used to create a “silhouette,” which is the first stages of designing the bras. So, for anyone who worries that their scanned images could be floating around in different places, that is not how the app works for this digitally scanned product.

This also seems good for women who wear two different sized bra cups (which isn’t uncommon), or have unusually large or small breasts and still can’t find the right bra. When ordering your bra, you also have the opportunity to choose a variety of fabric, styles, and colors.

So far about 135 backers for the Digital Bra are on board, and we’ll see if this project reaches its funding goal about a month from now! What are your thoughts on this digital bra? Let us know in the 3D Scanned Bra forum thread on 3DPB.com.