An industry first- Introducing the APTUS Sports Bra

In schoolwear, we rarely come across the revolutionary. We perhaps witness innovation in product design, but a garment that pushes boundaries and makes a real change in students’ lives and wellbeing is few and far between. That was until the APTUS Sports Bra came to be.

Recent statistics are a resounding callout for schoolwear providers to offer extra support for female students to protect their body and feel confident to partake in school activities.

It’s enough to know that 40% of students at secondary school are self-conscious about their bodies and as a result, don’t want to take part in sporting activities. But when we also learn that 46% of girls aged 11-18 said that their breasts had an effect on their participation in sports, and half of the girls in this age group have never worn a sports bra before – it was clear what needed to be done.

“When the statistics came to light, the team and I knew we needed to act,” says Emma Connelly, Product Director at Banner. “Our sportswear brand APTUS is all about empowering young people to take part in school sport, no matter their age, gender or body type. So why would we ignore an opportunity to support girls in feeling confident about their bodies?”

“Before getting ahead of ourselves with design, look and feel, we needed the scientific backing and research to support our ideas for the sports bra. That’s when we came across Joanna’s research.”

Professor Joanna Wakefield Scurr is the biomechanics field leader and Head of the Research Group in Breast Health at the University of Portsmouth. “Joanna helped us to understand the fundamentals of breast health and anatomy, and the importance of wearing a sports bra, which led us to develop the APTUS Sports Bra specifically for use at school.”

Now with the knowledge and understanding of the positive impact wearing a sports bra would have on female students, Emma’s team got to work on the design.

“We needed to focus on the concept that this sports bra would be an extension of a school’s P.E kit and would likely be worn all day underneath school shirts or polos. With that in mind, we made sure the aesthetic of the bra was simplistic and discreet with a reversible design, while the structure and materials ensured suitable comfort and support.”

What can’t be forgotten about the APTUS Sports Bra is that it’s made using recycled polyester, saving 1.5 plastic bottles from waste per bra. “Sustainability is at the core of everything Banner does as a business, and with the recent eco transition across the entire APTUS range, sustainability was a must.”

With all the hard work, research and development that Emma and her team put into creating the APTUS Sports Bra, it’s clear that this was more than a business move to expand the range. “I know for certain that a lot of passion went into this product from everyone involved. We hope that the sports bra brings us huge leap closer to supporting girls at school and making sport accessible to all.”