WOMEN WHO HAVE had surgery on their breasts – such as cancer or cosmetic surgery – have very specific needs when it comes to the bra they wear directly afterwards.
What might seem like a small issue to those who haven’t undergone surgery is actually a pretty huge one: finding comfortable underwear that doesn’t fit and is good for their healing body.
Irish startup THEYA Lingerie, founded by Ciara Donlon, believes it has the solution. It has just launched a range of post-operative lingerie suitable for women who are recovering from breast cancer surgery, cosmetic surgery and/or undergoing radiotherapy treatment.
They unveiled the range at the Salon International de la Lingerie fair in Paris, France.
Donlon, said that a very important part of their ethos “is to engage with women who have or have had breast cancer and help design lingerie based on their needs”.
What makes it different?
This lingerie is wire and seamfree, which makes it comfortable and non-irritating to sensitive areas.
The bras are made using OEKO-TEX® certified bamboo fabric which is “soft and gentle on the skin, thermally regulating, 300% more absorbent than cotton and wickable”.
The bamboo fabric also has anti-bacterial properties, to help with the healing process.
It can be worn directly after surgery, up until the woman has healed fully. The range will be available in Arnotts in Dublin from mid-February, and can be bought through the company’s website or at a number of independent lingerie stores across Ireland.
THEYA Lingerie was established in 2014 by Ciara and is headquartered at NovaUCD, the Centre for New Ventures and Entrepreneurs at University College Dublin (UCD). It’s an Enterprise Ireland-funded company, and also has an office in the UK.
Ciara has worked with businesses such as Vodafone, RBS and Irish Life and Permanent, and set up her own lingerie boutique in 2010. It was from speaking to breast cancer survivors at her boutique that she was inspired to create this much-needed post-surgery lingerie.
To create the products, she works with lingerie designer Kelly Lakin.
Ciara said that they made the products with the input of breast cancer survivors – then through working with the medical industry, they realised they would also suit women after cosmetic surgery or during radiotherapy treatment.
Into the future
They are now designing and developing a post-operative swimwear range, sportswear range and a nightwear range.
THEYA Lingerie has also begun a clinical research study in conjunction with the ARCH (Applied Research in Connected Health) Centre at UCD, the Beacon Hospital and St. James’s Hospital.
This will involve the company working closely with women in both hospitals who have undergone wide local excision breast conserving surgery, as well as women who are undergoing radiotherapy treatment.
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