J.D Birla Institute Department of Textile Science, Clothing & Fashion Studies organized

J.D Birla Institute

Department of Textile Science, Clothing & Fashion Studies organized

SPECIAL LECTURE ON FOUNDATION GARMENTS

Kolkata: A foundation garment is an undergarment designed to temporarily alter the wearer's body shape, to achieve a more fashionable figure. Some have been essential to the fashion trends of the time. Others have been born out of the need for women to feel more secure. Better known today as “shape wear”, these garments include body briefs, bodysuits, bras, control panty hose, control panties, corsets, garter belts, and girdles. Women have worn foundation garments, such as corsets and brassieres, for a very long time.

A Brassiere commonly referred as a bra is an article of clothing that covers, supports, and elevates the breasts. The bra has become a feminine icon or symbol with cultural significance beyond its primary function of supporting breasts. Some feminists consider the brassiere a symbol of the repression of women's bodies. Culturally, when a young girl gets her first bra, it may be seen as a rite of passage and symbolic of her coming of age.

Changing social trends and novel materials have increased the variety of available designs, and allowed manufacturers to make bras that in some instances are more fashionable than functional. Bras are a complex garment made of many parts, and manufacturers' standards and sizes vary widely worldwide, making it difficult for women to find a bra that fits them correctly. Even methods of bra-measurement vary, such that even professional fitters can disagree on the correct size for the same woman. As a result, 75–85% of women wear a bra of an incorrect size which may also have various health consequences such as back pain, breast pain, abrasions, hunched posture and in severe cases, even may result in breast cancer.

Department of Textile Science, Clothing and Fashion Studies of J.D. Birla Institute organized an awareness lecture on “Foundation Garments” on 29^th April, 2013 at the college premises. A leaflet announcing the event was presented to the participating students. The leaflet also furnished guidelines on selection of correct brassiere as part of the awareness campaign.

A lecture was delivered by Ms. Swati Gautam, Proprietor, Necessity, a well known specialized lingerie boutique in Kolkata. During the lecture Ms. Gautam emphasized on the importance of introducing brassieres at the right time for young girls and also gave examples of the suitable types for beginners. She gave an insight on how factors such as age, lifestyle and health issues of the wearer affected the choice of bras. She demonstrated how a good fit could be easily spotted. Side effects of surgery like bust upliftment and reduction were also discussed. She informed students about reasons for bust sagging and how it could be controlled through proper choice of bras.

The lecture was followed by an interactive session where students put forward their personal queries seeking guidance on subjects such as bras for obese cases, ‘flat’ figures etc.

About the J.D. Birla Institute:

J.D. Birla Institute, which is a private un-aided college, was established in June 1962 when late Smt. Sushila Devi Birla established a college for girls to provide scientific education to young women from Kolkata's conservative family. Over the 50 glorious years, JDBI has grown with the needs and demands of the changing times. The Institute has made rapid strides over the decades to emerge as a centre of excellence. The name was changed to J.D. Birla Institute in 2002 with the launch of a satellite campus to house the co-educational Department of Management. Today the Institute, which has an `A' grade from National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), provides graduate, post-graduate degrees under affiliation to Jadavpur University and several short term courses.