We sat down with Elena Vasquez, Brabic's Head of Design, to talk about what goes into creating shapewear that women actually love to wear. With 15 years of experience in intimate apparel design, Elena has strong opinions about where the industry is headed.
Q: What's the most common misconception about shapewear?
Elena: That comfort and effectiveness are mutually exclusive. So many women have had the experience of wearing shapewear that looked great but felt terrible — or felt comfortable but didn't do anything. At Brabic, we refuse to accept that trade-off. Our engineering team spends months perfecting the balance between compression and comfort. You don't have to suffer to look good.
Q: How has the industry changed since you started?
Elena: Dramatically. When I started, the conversation was all about "sucking it in" and "hiding flaws." Now, it's about enhancement and confidence. Women are much more vocal about what they want. They don't want to be told what their body should look like — they want tools that help them feel good in their own skin. That shift has completely changed how we design.
Q: What's the biggest technical challenge in designing for larger busts?
Elena: Distribution of weight. When you're designing a wirefree bra for a 36DD or 42DD, you can't just scale up a smaller design. The entire architecture has to change. The underband needs to be wider and stronger. The straps need to be positioned differently. The side panels need to be cut at specific angles to prevent bulging. It took us over a year of prototyping to get our DD+ wirefree bras right.
Q: What's your personal favorite Brabic product?
Elena: That's like asking me to pick a favorite child! But if I had to choose, it would be our shaping camisole. It's the product that most embodies our philosophy — it smooths and shapes without being restrictive. You can wear it under a blazer for a meeting or under a T-shirt for brunch. It's versatile, comfortable, and effective. That's the Brabic difference.
Q: What's next for Brabic design?
Elena: We're working on smart fabrics that can adapt to body temperature and activity level. Imagine shapewear that provides more support when you're active and relaxes when you're at rest. We're also expanding our size range and introducing more inclusive color options. The future of shapewear is personalized, adaptive, and accessible to everyone.