Meet Our Neighbors: Trusst

19th Dec 2016

Have you heard of the new bra company, Trusst, that has specially engineered their bras to better support women's breasts? We've been big fans of theirs since their idea was a concept and even helped them to gather their sizing data while they designed their prototype.

The creators, industrial designers, found out that different breast density affected fit as they traced and measured hundreds of different breasts around the Pittsburgh area.

Today I got to visit Trusst headquarters to meet with Laura West, who showed me around the shop and helped fit me into a Marjory so I could experience for myself this new and improved take on the bra. 

West showed me all the inside parts of their bras so I could see and feel the differences, and it was pretty fascinating. Rather than use traditional underwire, Trusst bras use a patent-pending Breast Advanced Support Technology system (BAST) to hold up the breasts and redistribute the weight. The BAST is made from a firm, plasticky material that sort of resembles the trussed Hot Metal Bridge here in Pittsburgh where the designers call home.

My immediate question was how something so firm and bridge-looking could possibly feel comfortable inside a bra I was going to wear for 12 hours. West assured me I needed to feel it to believe it, and then showed me a Marjory bra

From the outside, this t-shirt bra seems robust. The inside looks like it's made from a sweatshirt. West explains that a textile engineer designed this lining material to be super comfortable and wick sweat.

Into the dressing room I went, where I learned my Trusst size is slightly different from the European bras I typically wear--and I also learned that Marjory feels like I'm not wearing a bra at all. That's a significant observation for someone wearing a 38F!

True to their word, the Trusst bra redistributed the weight of my breasts until I felt perky. The sweatshirt material felt just like a sweatshirt (while Levana Bratique currently only carries the Marjory style, all Trusst bras are lined with this same material, even the lacy ones).

West and Kayla Geer (another industrial designer) observed my bra fit with a scientific eye, adjusting straps until even my uneven breasts felt properly supported. They an insert can be another solution for women whose breasts are a cup or greater different in size, but I found that I didn't need this with their strap adjustments. I forgot to hook Marjory into the racer-back option to feel how that changed the support.

I've been excited to try a Trusst bra for a few years, ever since I traced my bust on a huge piece of paper to help these industrial engineers design a new product for women like me, who have a large bust and find traditional underwire to be uncomfortable...women whose shoulders ache by the end of the day.

I love that this bra was designed by women for women, and that it was created right here in my city. 

If you're curious about Marjory, I definitely recommend coming in to try her on (or else using the Virtual Fitting Service to discuss the best size for you). This bra is totally different from anything you've felt in the past.

The FTC requires me to mention that I receive an employee discount on bras I purchase from Levana Bratique. I haven't yet bought a Marjory, but it's on my to-do list in the new year. I want to make sure I get properly refitted first!