Underwear & bras

Warmest welcome!

Hello dearest friends and family,

First, a warm welcome and a sincerest thank you for the support you've shown us over the past few months. We feel it, and we're excited to invite you to participate in this next phase of building Hope Arouses.

Before this goes out to hundreds of women, we want to make sure we're asking the right questions. Your answers will help us refine them so we can get the information we need to make important decisions about our business. All we ask is that you answer as honestly as you can — and if the honest answer is “I've never thought about this,” that's genuinely useful to us too. If a question is confusing, or none of the options quite fit you, please text us or leave a comment. That's exactly the kind of feedback we're hoping for.

It takes 15 minutes tops, and a few of the questions get personal — sizing, measurements, money. Though we hope you answer each question, every single one is optional, so please skip anything you'd rather not answer.

We are in the middle of finalizing our underwear and bralette patterns and are working to find the right partners to bring our bras and underwear to the world. The information from this survey will help us build a size range that reflects real bodies instead of guessing, get the fit right, select the right fabrics, place the right sizing orders with our partners, price things appropriately, and find the people who are looking for what we're building.

Thank you, truly. We're building our dream company and are so glad to bring you along into our process.

With hope and love,
Ashley + Olivia, your friends and Co-Founders of Hope Arouses

First

A little routing, then we begin.

Which would you like to answer about today?

Both — underwear and bras Just underwear Just bras

Part one

Your underwear.

Every question is optional — skip anything you'd rather not answer.

Which pair of underwear do you reach for first?Just the brand, if you know it.

I don't know the brand There's no label I can find

What makes that pair the one you reach for?Select all that apply

Separately — what brand makes the best pair of underwear you've ever owned?

Same as above Can't think of one

Could you buy that pair again today?

What's in the drawer

Of those, how many do you actually wear?

Almost all of them About half Only a few Basically one or two

Which brand was your most recent underwear purchase?

I don't remember

Where do you like underwear to sit on you?

Sizing

If you buy numeric sizes, which?Leave blank if this doesn't apply.

Does the size you buy change from brand to brand?

Often Sometimes No I don't know

Buying & spending

When you buy underwear, is it usually for everyday wear, or for feeling good / a special occasion?

Mostly everyday Mostly special Both, and I buy different pairs for each Both, and the same pairs do double duty

Do you still wear them?

Yes No I don't remember which pair it was

About how many separate times did you buy underwear in the past 12 months?Counting each order or shopping trip once, however many pairs.

How many different underwear brands have you tried in the past 2 years?

Just one 2–3 4–5 6 or more

Has price ever stopped you from buying underwear you otherwise wanted?

Yes No

What goes wrong

Of those, which one bothers you most?

Have you ever thrown out or stopped wearing nearly new underwear because of one of these?

Yes No

If yes, what happened?

Do you think about visible lines under your clothing when choosing underwear?

A lot Somewhat Not at all

Is there an underwear problem no brand has solved for you?

Materials & care

Do you know what your everyday underwear is made of?

Yes, I check labels I have a general idea Not really, I don't think about it

Have you ever stopped wearing something because of the fabric, separate from how it fit?

Yes No

If yes, what was it about the fabric?

Have you ever switched brands specifically because of what something was made of?

Yes No

If yes, what did you switch to?

Have you ever had a skin reaction — irritation, itching, redness, chafing — to a material in your underwear?Select all that apply

If you have, is that a newer issue for you, or has it always been this way?

It's newer for me It's always been this way Not sure Doesn't apply

How do you feel about elastic at the waist and legs?

Fine as it is I prefer it covered or encased I prefer as little as possible I don't notice it

Has the way something has to be cared for — hand wash, no dryer — ever stopped you buying it?

Yes, it has stopped me It would stop me It doesn't matter to me

How do you actually wash and dry your underwear?

Machine wash, machine dry Machine wash, hang dry Hand wash A mix

Buying online

Have you bought underwear online in the past 12 months?

Yes No

Have you ever decided not to buy underwear online because you weren't sure about size, or because it couldn't be returned?

Yes, because of size uncertainty Yes, because intimates can't be returned Both No

Have you returned or exchanged underwear in the past 12 months?

Yes No I wasn't allowed to

If yes, why?

Have you used a brand's size quiz or fit finder?

Yes, and it worked Yes, and it didn't No I didn't know that existed

Anything here confusing, annoying, or missing an option that fits you?The most useful box on the page

Part two

Your bras.

Every question is optional — skip anything you'd rather not answer.

Which brand makes the bra you reach for first?

I don't know the brand There's no label I can find

What makes that one the one you reach for?Select all that apply

Separately — what's the best bra you've ever owned?

Same as above Can't think of one

Wearing & replacing

Which best describes the bra you wear most often, day to day?

How many do you actually wear in a typical month?

All of them Most of them Two or three Really just one

How many bras in your drawer do you never wear?

None One or two Three to five More than five

Do you sleep in a bra?

Always Sometimes Never

What usually makes you retire a bra?Select all that apply

Sizing

Which describes your rib cage?

Narrow Average Broad Not sure

How do you know your bra size?

How confident are you that it's correct?

Very confident Fairly confident Not very — it's my best guess Not sure

Where was that fitting?

Has your bra size changed in the past 12 months?

Yes, band size Yes, cup size Yes, both No change that I know of

Do you currently own bras in more than one size?

Yes No Not sure

In the past 12 months, has your size kept you from buying a bra you wanted?

Yes — my size wasn't carried at all Yes — my size was carried but sold out No, this hasn't happened to me

Which of these apply to you, related to your size?Select all that apply

My size is rarely carried or in stock I've sized up or down because the right size wasn't available I buy from more than one brand because no single brand covers my range I've had a bra altered or custom made None of these

Based on your experience, how well has standard band-and-cup sizing worked for your body?

Very well Somewhat Not well It doesn't work for me at all

What goes wrong

Of those, which is worst for you?

Is there a fit problem you've never been able to find a bra to solve?

Have you ever bought a bra you knew didn't fit right because it was the only option in your size?

Yes No

Support and comfort

In the past 12 months, how often have you worn a sports or activewear bra as your everyday bra — not for exercise?

Which is closer to the truth about your everyday bra?

It's what I actually want It's the best compromise available to me I haven't thought about it that way

Does your rotation include either of these?Select all that apply

A bra that's comfortable but not supportive enough A bra that's supportive but uncomfortable Both, for different days Neither — my bras work

Have you tried a soft or wire-free bra as your everyday bra?

Yes, and I stuck with it Yes, but I went back to underwire No, never tried I don't own underwire bras

If you went back, why didn't it stick?Select all that apply

How a bra is built

Which cup construction do you actually buy?

Molded or padded Lightly lined Unlined I don't care

When you're picking a bra for everyday wear, how much does it matter whether your nipples show through?

It's one of the first things I check It matters somewhat It doesn't really matter to me I'd rather have less padding even if they show It depends on where I'm going or what I'm wearing

Have you ever done any of these because of it?Select all that apply

Chosen a padded or molded bra mainly for coverage Kept or added removable pads Worn a camisole, undershirt or thicker top over it Changed what top I wore that day Used nipple covers or petals Avoided buying or returned a bra that didn't give enough coverage None of these

Elastic against your skin — do you have a preference?

I prefer it covered or encased It doesn't matter I prefer as little elastic as possible

Do you want a matching underwear option when you buy a bra?

Usually Sometimes Never

Buying & spending

Which brand was your most recent bra purchase?

I don't remember

When you buy a bra, is it usually for everyday wear or for a special occasion?

Mostly everyday Mostly special Both, and I buy different bras for each Both, and the same bras do double duty

Do you still wear it?

Yes No I don't remember which one

Has price ever stopped you from buying a bra you otherwise wanted?

Yes No

Materials, care & returns

Have you ever had a skin reaction to a material in a bra?Select all that apply

If you have, is that newer for you, or has it always been this way?

It's newer for me It's always been this way Not sure Doesn't apply

Have you ever stopped wearing a bra because of the fabric, separate from fit?

Yes No

Have you ever switched bra brands because of what it was made of?

Yes No

If yes, what did you switch to?

Have you worn wool against bare skin — a base layer, a sweater with nothing under it, socks?Select all that apply

Yes, and it felt fine Yes, and it itched Yes — some wool was fine, some itched No, never

Would hand-wash-only or no-dryer care stop you buying a bra?

Yes, it has stopped me before It would stop me It doesn't matter to me

Have you decided not to buy a bra online because of size uncertainty or the return policy?

Yes, because of size uncertainty Yes, because of returns Both No

Have you returned or exchanged a bra in the past 12 months?

Yes No

If yes, why?

Have you used a brand's fit quiz or virtual fitting for a bra?

Yes, and it worked Yes, and it didn't No I didn't know that existed

Think of the last bra you decided not to buy after trying it on or seriously considering it. What was the main reason?

Anything here confusing, annoying, or missing an option that fits you?The most useful box on the page

Nearly there

A little about you.

Nothing here is required.

Where do you live?State or ZIP is plenty.

Which best describes it?

A major metro A suburb of a major metro A small city or town Rural

In the past 3 years, have any of these applied to you?Select all that apply

Do you sew or alter your own clothes?

Regularly Occasionally No

Optional, and personalThese last two are optional, and we know they're personal. Sizing in this industry is a mess, and knowing height and weight alongside the size you actually buy is the only way for us to build a size range that fits real bodies instead of guessing. Skip them if you'd rather not.

Last questions

Thank you, thank you — truly.

Here's where we actually are right now: fabric samples from Japan and Portugal just arrived on our expert patternmaker's sewing table, and our underwear and bralette patterns are close. We are producing them in natural fibers, with as little elastane as we can get away with. Honestly, we cannot wait for you to see them!

With hope and love,
Ashley + Olivia

Keep up with our progress.We'll update you monthly

Would you be open to a short 15–20 minute call with us?Leave your email if yes

Would you be willing to wear-test prototypes in your size and tell us what you think?Leave your email if yes

How was the survey itself?Too long, confusing, repetitive, a question that annoyed you, one we should have asked

Anything else you want to tell us?

Warmest welcome!

A little routing, then we begin.

Your underwear.

Your bras.

A little about you.

Thank you, thank you — truly.

You're a gem.