Bravado Designs [closed]

When we do a product review, we review each product in the order they are received. Once in a while, we get one that makes us so excited, it’s hard for us to keep it quiet until review day! We recently have been trying out the Bravado product line and let me tell you – it’s been a HUGE hit.

As an expecting mom, I gave them a try after finding my body rapidly changing and I was tired of buying cheep bra’s to just ‘get me through’. After talking to other nursing moms, I decided to try the Bravado line as it was given glowing reviews.

I contacted Bravado and was teamed up with Melissa, who is one of many Bravado Certified Fitters. She was kind, helpful and helped me over email pick a size that would work for me now and down the road. We then picked out the Body Silk Seamless (in Lip Gloss….soooo pretty!) for me to review. I have to say… I LOVE LOVE it!!

It is comfortable, washes like a dream and still is pretty and sexy. A feature important for me with my changing body! (who wants to look like they are wearing a granny bra..really?)

I then asked a nursing mother what she thought of her Bravado Bras and she had the following to say.

I LOVE my Bravado bras – I have 4 of them now in two styles. I find them to be extremely comfortable, easy and convenient for nursing and great for hiding nursing pads.

I own all mine in the butterscotch color so its near skin tone and do not show even under white shirts. I was drawn to the Bravado bras since they had sizing options that went up to higher sizes and didn’t just stop @ DD. Plus they are very reasonably priced for the great quality. I also find they do not lose their shape when washed.

I love them and would recommend them to any nursing mother.

NOTE: Bravado also makes nursing tanks and underwear. They are discontinuing some of the underwear including the Original Thong, Brief and Bikini. However, but still have the Embellished Below the Belly Bikinis, Exquisite Boy Short, Allure Boy Short and the Sublime Brief. My personal fav’s are the Below the Belly Bikinis and the Allure Boy Shorts.

The Inspiration

Bravado first began with two mothers: Shery Leeder who is still my current partner in crime and her original partner. They originally wanted to create a cloth diaper business (which was all the rage in the early 90s) so they began to design the next wave of fabulous diapers. Then one night her partner turned to her and said, “just a minute, I have to take off my nursing bra – this thing is driving me nuts.” They started talking about how they hated all nursing bras currently on the market and then they decided to try and make something better. Two days later, they had a leopard spandex prototype in Leopard print (now known as the Original Nursing Bra, and still our best seller to this day) that they had worn for 48 hours straight, and the rest is history. Shery just felt that every nursing mother deserved that bra. And today, although many things have changed since those beginnings, one thing never will –our goal of bolstering and enhancing a mother’s self esteem, during the triumphant yet challenging time of pregnancy and nursing.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a mom running your own business?

The ability to take something and grow it, and to have true accountability and responsibility for both its successes and its mistakes. You just hope that you have more successes than mistakes! It helps if you are passionate about the product and the people who use those products – nursing mothers.

What advice would you give to someone considering starting their own business?

Be prepared to work hard and to take risks. You need to have enough confidence in yourself that you will find ways around obstacles and challenges, no matter what they are. And NEVER start a business because you think it’s the way to get rich quick – that just doesn’t happen (in real life!), and money cannot be your motivator because you will be sorely disappointed. Above all, always look on the bright side of things, no matter how tough!

What’s your motivation?

That in the jungle of cash flows, distribution networks, marketing deadlines, logistics nightmares challenges, production issues – whatever – we never lose sight of that brand new mom wandering around in her own jungle of sleepless nights, a sore body, heavy breasts and challenging overbearing in-laws – we never lose sight of her. If we can make her life just a tiny bit easier, more comfortable, less difficult, then we have done our job.

Where do you see your business in 5 years?

I hope that in 5 years we will be globally recognized as a brand that continues to innovate, push the boundaries, and look for ways to have a meaningful impact on a new mother’s life.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned as a working mom {so far}?

t is a constant challenge when you are being pulled in two different directions each and every day. I adore what I do professionally, find work exhilarating, and look forward to getting into the office every Monday morning. I also want to be there for my kids in terms of quality time – being there for school events, watching skating or swimming lessons, reading books before bed. My daughter Riley is almost 10 months old, so I created my own version of maternity leave (working flexible hours) to get more involved in my son Logan’s school (he just started Grade 1) and his activities (while test-driving new Bravado products, of course!).

It is a delicate balance… work, kids, grocery shopping, organizing my husband (God bless him, he’s wonderful but really like a 3rd child!)… but each activity gives me the energy to do the others. Work gives me a chance to interact with adults, solve complex and challenging issues, exercise my brain. And nothing recharges me faster than walking in the door to be greeted by smiles and giggles from my kids and focusing on them for a few hours before bedtime. If I can squeeze in a bit of exercise (I started doing sprint triathlons this year – I know… a bit crazy but necessary for my physical and mental well-being!), so much the better!

At the end of the day, prioritize those things that mean the most to you… the rest can wait.

~Kathryn From and I am the President and CEO of Bravado Designs