How the quest for comfort led one woman to start her own underwear brand

We have written before about how our underwear can impact our confidence and our wellbeing, and with summer (hopefully) on the horizon, along with holiday plans, the same applies to swimwear.

With that in mind, we turned our heads to feeling good in ourselves, for ourselves, as we spoke to Kuku, founder of the Kent-based barrettes and swimwear collection for bigger busts.

Having found it near impossible to find supportive and comfortable swimwear and bras without wiring for herself, she decided to do something about it, and Reign Studio was born.

What makes your brand unique?

We are a female-owned brand, designing fashionable and functional pieces for fuller bust women by fuller bust women.

Where did the idea for your brand come from?

The idea came to me while on my honeymoon in Thailand. I bought some swimsuits for my trip and made the rookie error of not trying them on until the day before we traveled. To my horror, they did not fit me as I expected, so I spent the best part of my honeymoon adjusting myself to feel confident and comfortable in my swimwear. At that moment I thought I'm going to start my own swimwear brand where all our pieces are made with a fuller bust in mind. I didn't want any other woman to spend her special moments feeling insecure or uncomfortable because her swimsuit wasn't made with her in mind.

What did you do before starting your brand?

Before starting Reign Studio I worked in digital marketing.

How did you get started with your business?

Ahead of looking for a manufacturer I spent a good amount of time thinking of a name that I felt encapsulated the vision. Reign came about because I think we should reign over our bodies, over our minds over our emotions, over how we see ourselves. The brand exists to empower women to be their best selves, by creating pieces that make them feel like themself.

How's your business going and what are your plans for the future?

Business is going well. Since launching, we have sold thousands of swimsuits and underwear sets to women all over the world. As we grow we hope to be able to provide fuller-bust women with more choices by launching more styles and products that meet their needs.

What's your feedback been from women so far?

The feedback has been so positive, which for me is incredibly fulfilling. Fuller-busted women are happy and excited to see themselves being represented and catered for.

Are there any failures or successes you've learned from along the way?

There have been many failures and many successes. It's somewhat circular in nature. Failures are always lessons, though and I'm getting to a place where I welcome them as they are necessary for growth. Whether that's launching a print that was not as popular as I thought and being stuck with the stock or launching a style that I didn't think would be popular and then becomes a best-seller and figuring out how we can restock it fast enough to keep up with the demand.

What does wellbeing mean to you?

Wellbeing to me is time to look after yourself mind, body, and soul. For me this includes taking time out for prayer and meditation, going to the gym regularly, eating delicious food and being intentional about spending time with loved ones.

Do you have a favourite spa treatment?

Definitely a deep tissue massage.