In light of breast cancer awareness month this October, Adidas by Stella McCartney has created a post-mastectomy sports bra. Jessica Owen reports.
Every year, around 55,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer, according to the charity Breast Cancer Care. The disease affects both men and women, and 43% of women who have surgery for breast cancer will end up having a mastectomy – an operation to remove a breast.
In light of these facts, Adidas by Stella McCartney has created a post-operative bra to empower breast cancer survivors to introduce sport and fitness back into their lives. The design is a welcomed addition to the ongoing creative partnership, supporting a cause close to McCartney’s heart, following the loss of her mother, Linda McCartney to the disease in 1998.
“With the post-mastectomy sports bra, I really wanted to encourage women to take care of their health through wellness and self-care,” says McCartney herself.
“This bra allows us to support recovering patients through the next phase of their journey, and hopefully give them the confidence to get back into training. It has a cool and modern look that will help motivate the wearer, as well as assuring them they are not the odd one out in the gym.”
Prioritising comfort and support, the bra has been constructed with ultra-soft fabric that provides a luxurious feel to the skin, while sweat-wicking Climalite technology works to keep skin dry in every condition. In addition, four unique design features have been tailored to the needs of women who have undergone surgery for breast cancer:
- Front zip closure – The front fastening closure allows for easy closure when dressing and undressing; tailored to women with restricted movement post-mastectomy.
- Front pockets – The soft inner front pockets with removable pads is unique to the mastectomy bra, ensuring prosthetics are kept firmly secured during various intensity workouts.
- Strategic seam placement – The strategic placement of seams around the arms reduces discomfort and irritation to areas of the skin that are prone to sensitivity due to surgical scarring.
- Adjustable straps – Designed to provide a controlled fit and high support, the adjustable straps allow for versatility of wear and comfort, accompanied with a wide under-band for optimum fit.
Additionally, the post-mastectomy sports bra was created in partnership with bra consultant Monica Harrington. Harrington has over 30 years of experience in the industry and has worked closely with breast cancer patients for many years, gaining extensive knowledge of their needs post-surgery, that she imparted when working with Adidas and Stella McCartney.
“Working with Adidas and Stella McCartney on the post-mastectomy sports bra has been inspiring,” she says.
“Over the years I’ve worked closely with women who have had breast cancer and they have confided in me about their struggles to regain confidence and to feel themselves again. Being able to share these insights and create a performance product that enables them to get back into fitness and sport has been highly rewarding.”
Alongside the launch of the bra, the campaign features British professional boxer Michele Aboro, who is a breast cancer survivor.
“After my surgery I felt lost. As a professional athlete, I was used to relying on my body but after my mastectomy, I started to lose belief in myself and how my body would react.
“When I was ready to get back into fitness, I couldn’t find a sports bra that didn’t require being pulled over my head or lacked in support. Now I wear the post-mastectomy sports bra every time I train – it is comfortable and supportive and has helped me build back my confidence to get back into the game,” Aboro explains.
Author's comment
When I first saw the news about the launch of the post-mastectomy sports bra, I immediately thought that this was a great idea, but when I did a quick Google search, I was surprised to see that it was a pretty unique idea as well. Although brands such as Marks and Spencer offer post-surgery and everyday mastectomy bras, only a few companies such as Figleaves, Anita and Nicola Jane offer sports bras in this area. Considering that thousands of people every year undergo this operation globally, I’m surprised there are not more options available from the well-known sports companies. The launch of the post-mastectomy sports bra by Adidas by Stella McCartney therefore addresses this important gap in the market and I’m sure that many of the company’s competitors will follow suit in the near future.
