Shopping for a first bra can be an awkward milestone for tweens and their parents, but one Perth mum quickly discovered just how difficult it could be to find something that felt right.
When Chantelle Somas took her then 12-year-old daughter Alysha shopping for a strapless bra, she expected to find plenty of options. Instead, she was met with a problem that would eventually inspire an entire fashion label.
The available bras were either too grown-up or looked like adult lingerie that had simply been shrunk down for younger bodies. There was little that felt specifically designed for tweens and teens.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today
Then Alysha came up with a very simple solution: “Can’t you just make me one?”
There was just one problem. Somas says she “can’t even sew on a button”.
Rather than abandoning the idea, the former owner of the Bose store in Perth decided to build a brand around it.
The result is teysha, a new Australian label specialising in bras and underwear designed specifically for tween and teen girls.
The debut collection was developed alongside Melbourne-based designer Marissa Ganino, who has extensive experience in lingerie and sleepwear.
Ganino has previously designed lingerie for Elle Macpherson Body, Kayser and Finelines, as well as sleepwear for Marie Claire, and now takes on the role of Head of Creative Design at teysha.
The brand has also been something of a family project, with Somas’ daughters Alysha and Teyana contributing ideas, feedback and plenty of what the founder describes as “girl talk” throughout the design process.
Even the name is a nod to the sisters, combining Teyana and Alysha.
For parents navigating the first-bra stage, the point of difference is that teysha isn’t simply taking adult lingerie and making it smaller.
The pieces have been designed specifically with growing bodies in mind, using ultra-soft organic cotton fabrics intended to feel breathable and comfortable against sensitive skin.
The styling is deliberately youthful without looking childish, with options including ditsy florals and solid colours.
There are also small design details intended to make the pieces feel fun, including the brand’s signature T charms.
Comfort is central to the collection, with the designs intended to work throughout the day, whether a girl is lounging at home, studying or heading out.
Ganino, who has a young daughter herself, says the experience has reinforced the importance of considering both fabric and construction when designing for children and teens.
That matters because the first bra is about more than finding the right size.
It is often one of the first pieces of clothing a girl wears that is specifically designed around a changing body, so having options that feel comfortable, appropriate and age-relevant can make the experience considerably easier.
For Somas, what began with a frustrating shopping trip has become a business built around solving a problem she encountered firsthand.
The debut collection is now available to shop, with shoppers who sign up able to receive 10 per cent off their first order.
Orders over $120 qualify for free shipping, while orders over $50 come with a free wash bag.
For parents who have found themselves searching through lingerie departments wondering why there isn’t a better middle ground between children’s underwear and adult bras, teysha is betting that the answer starts with designing for the girl actually wearing it.
The teysha perks to know
• 10 per cent off: Sign up to receive 10 per cent off your first order.
• Free shipping: Orders over $120 qualify for free delivery.
• Free wash bag: Spend more than $50 and receive a wash bag with your order.
• Organic cotton: The collection uses ultra-soft organic cotton fabrics designed with comfort in mind.
• Tween and teen focused: The bras and underwear are designed specifically for growing girls rather than adapted from adult lingerie.
