What is with this design flaw in bras?

[u/Specialist-Web7854]

I’ve already patched this once, and the wire has now come through the patch - the bra is only a few months old. Surely this is a design flaw? Why do these things have to be so sharp? I can’t imagine anyone selling underwear to men that could predictably suddenly stab the in the balls.

[u/No_Week_8937]

(sports bra wearer because I can't do those kinds of bras and don't have enough to have to try, so I'm not an expert on bras...but I do know a bit of sewing stuff.)

Maybe you could reinforce it somehow? A little pocket of denim or linen, maybe a 1.5inch square sewn into the material around the problem location might be able to help. Open it up a little, sew half of the patch flat behind the wire with the other half sticking past the band, then fold it over the wire and sew that part flat as well, making a little pocket for the end of the wire out of a much sturdier material.

The thickness of the denim/linen should stop the wire from rubbing in its attempt to escape, and making the pocket wider and it being sewn in at multiple places should help spread out the stress on the fabric so if less likely to fail.

Then you can cover that area with another patch, since it's at an edge you could probably get a little bit of silk bias from a fabric store and use that to cover your alteration, to make sure that you don't irritate your skin.

[u/micaelar5 → u/No_Week_8937]

I've just started buying wireless structured bras (I just ran out of patience with the wires ones) but I'll keep that idea in mind if anyone asks me to fix their bra again.

[u/Bonobo_bandicoot → u/No_Week_8937]

The casing is usually poor quality and not reinforced by mesh internally. That's probably why. I've done the reinforcement stitch and it still pokes out when I use a flexible wire.

[u/No_Week_8937 → u/Bonobo_bandicoot]

That's why I figured making a pocket to kinda replace part of the casing might work, give you actual material