• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.791-801
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• 2012

We performed an assessment of wearing, purchasing, satisfaction, and the fit of brassieres according to body and breast type for college women to provide basic data on the manufacture of an ergonomic brassiere. The classifications of domed and conical breast type or projecting and conical breast type were unclear. Flat breast were dissatisfied with the shape of small and flat, and drooping breast were dissatisfied with the shape of big, projected, and drooping. In purchasing a brassiere, the majority of subjects were ignorant of their brassiere size, and over 80% of the subjects bought a brassiere without trying it on. Over 50% of those surveyed said they found it difficult to buy a well-fitted brassiere, particularly for the flat and drooping breast type. Over 70% of those surveyed wore a brassiere of 3/4 cup size, the slim body type wore a brassiere of 1/2 cup size; however, the obese body type wore a brassiere of full-cup size. The flat-breast or slim-body wore a brassiere of a thick pad type but projecting-breast or drooping breast wore brassiere of a thin pad type. Many of the subjects wore an unfitted brassiere in cup size and under bust size. In the classification of breast type, there were slight differences between the breast type that they recognized and the breast type that they were shown. There were distinctions in function, satisfaction, and fitness based on breast type. Therefore, the development of an ergonomic brassiere should considered the characteristics of breast type for fitness and comfort.