Creating On’s first bra

On’s first ever sports bra was in the works for more than two years before launch. Apparel Designer Stefanie Herbstrith and Apparel Development Lead Fiona King spent countless hours in lab testing, fittings and iterating sample rounds. “This bra is an example that it’s not one woman's show,” Steffi says. “It needs all the departments to work really closely together.”  Bras are an essential piece of kit for many people — so what took so long? “We knew that it comes with greater challenges and we would only launch a new product if we can truly compete with the best sport bras out there.” Want to know more about how it got done? Keep reading for four hot q’s with Steffi on the creation of On’s first bra.

1. What is it like to work on the development of a completely new product for On?

At On, we have creative freedom that is way above industry standards. If we have different concepts on the table, the On team almost always goes for the most unconventional one. That’s a challenge but also a really inspiring journey. To create a product from the ground up includes a lot of research and testing. I remember when we got the first Lab testing results and we saw in black and white that our ideas were actually challenging some of the most established sports bras out there, it was a great joy (and a bit of a relief!) after spending already so many hours on a product. I’m really curious to see how the range will grow and evolve over time.

2. With so many different personal preferences and body shapes, bras can be really polarizing. How did that affect the design thinking?

Because we know from personal experience how hard it can be to find the perfect sports bra, we started from the beginning to work in a research group of women. This direct feedback from interviews and the really personal experiences they shared was super valuable for my design journey. It was also really important for us to include many fittings and Lab testing in our full size range to be sure the bras offer adequate breast support in all of the sizes we offer.

3. These bras have been your focus for two years. Now what?

I’m also the designer for the Apparel Performance Running vertical which allows me to constantly collect feedback from our athletes. We try to follow up with design solutions for their needs so we can be accessible for even more body shapes and sizes in the future. The sports bra is my favourite product because by minimizing breast movement, we can really have an impact on our athletes’ performance.

4. When you need to clear your mind or switch OFF, what do you do??

A jump into the Limmat River (just behind the On Labs!) or a nice dinner with friends.