The Travel Bra Anti-theft and comfort by Annie Holden

---

DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?

AH : Theft and pickpocketing is a problem for travelers, especially solo female travelers. We wanted to create a better option for women travelers to store valuables. Before The Travel Bra the only option for women was to use a money belt but these are ugly, bulky and uncomfortable. They are also not discrete. This seems like such a simple solution but we could not buy any thing like this on the market - so we had to invent it!

DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?

AH : Our main focus was comfort and security.

DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?

AH : To find international distributors for our range. To grow our range to include other styles with the same basic concept.

DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?

AH : The designer is an anthropologist who initially designed it for her own use and then found that many other women wanted to buy one.

DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?

AH : We are open to all commercial options.

DI: Who is the target customer for his design?

AH : Women travelers - backpackers, solo female travelers.

DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?

AH : It is completely unique - there is nothing else like it on the market.

DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?

AH : The Travel Bra is its name and it explains exactly what it is.

DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?

AH : We worked with professional sample makers.

DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?

AH : The drop down/fold up passport pocket, the hidden jewelry pockets, the side mesh credit card sleeves.

DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?

AH : Brenda Barnett who is a professional lingerie designer.

DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?

AH : It is very simple but effective technology.

DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?

AH : We conducted numerous wearability tests to test our design.

DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?

AH : Trying to design pockets that would not be intrusive and that could 'disappear' when not in use.

DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?

AH : I was advised to by a commercial adviser.

DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?

AH : That designing bras is really complicated!!!

DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?

AH : This design seems so simple and yet so many women have told me that they have been looking for something like this for years. Also, it seems simple but it was through a lot of trial and error before we finalised this design.