Bra Parts | case | ABSORTOMER™

Contributing to the development of a bra that accommodates changes in body shape and bilateral differences and matches each user

Woman’s breasts may change subtly depending on their age, physical condition and life events such as pregnancy and childbirth.
Whenever these changes occur, women have problems with their bras in terms of size and wearing comfort, for example.
Improvements have been made through changes to the product structure and the combination of many parts, but it is difficult to develop products that handle small differences that individuals experience. In particular, approaches in terms of materials have been limited.

Bras stay in contact with women’s bodies. ABSORTOMER^™’s property of softening when it contacts the body's temperature may satisfy two contradicting requirements, fit and relaxation of tightness.
Since bras have many parts, using ABSORTOMER^™ in required parts in accordance with the purpose may increase comfort in a way suited to individual consumers.

Improved long-term fit: As intended, ABSORTOMER^™’s property of softening when it contacts the body's temperature achieved the two contradicting benefits of fit and relaxation of tightness and an unprecedented level of comfort.

Application for parts according to the purpose: The product can be used differently depending on the purposes and targets. It may be used in the cups of maternity bras worn at a time when breasts often change size. It may be used in the bridge to relax the tightening which occurs from bilateral differences between breasts.

Wacoal Holdings Corp.
Material Purchase Section 2, Material Management Department, Technology & Production Division
Mr. Tomoharu Imanishi

Q1.What is your first impression of ABSORTOMER^™?: ＿At a cross-industry fair, I touched the extrusion molding cup and was impressed by how the handle part fits into the hand and returns to its original shape in a while after letting go of it.

Q2.Why did you decide to try to apply the material in the manufacturing of face masks?: ＿Since innerwear is the closest to the body's temperature, I thought the product’s ability to change reversibly when temperature is applied would be a seed for a material that the world did not have.

Q3.What were you excited most about the development of ABSORTOMER^™?: ＿At first, we applied it to extendable parts but saw no differences from existing materials. We reversed our way of thinking and applied the material in the manufacturing of non-extendable parts. We learned that it would fit the body well and development began to accelerate.

Q4.What role does Mitsui Chemicals play in your product development?: ＿The company offers seeds for materials that the textile industry doesn't have.

Q5.What does ABSORTOMER™ mean to you now?^™: ＿This is a raw material that no other company can make. I’m confident that it will lead to the Wacoal Group enhancing its value around the world.

CASE