I haven't worn bras for years – until I discovered this Frankfurt start-up

Custom-made bras: This is what the idea behind Cupped is all about.

"Almost 80 percent of women wear bras that don't fit well – and we've become far too accustomed to it," says Anna Lu, who founded her brand Cupped this year. "I always had trouble finding a bra that fit," says the Frankfurt native. "A few years ago, I decided to finally buy a really good bra – and after spending hours in countless stores, I came home disappointed. Back then, the salespeople told me I was just too picky. I thought, 'That just couldn't be right.'"

This is how the idea for Cupped was born: custom-made bras that you can order online – so you can finally feel comfortable thanks to the perfect fit. Ill-fitting bras that hinder your everyday life are a widespread problem for a variety of reasons, as Lu knows: "For one thing, many manufacturers only offer a few sizes because it's cheaper. This means that cup size E is often the limit, and a band size below 70 is also rare. Because many women have never worn a truly well-fitting bra, they aren't even aware of what to look for.

Classic signs that a bra doesn't fit properly include the underband riding up the back, the bridge between the cups not sitting flat, and the first thing you want to do when you get home is take it off. Furthermore, many bras are designed for the supposedly average body, which doesn't actually exist. And finally, our society often conveys a false image: For example, many people think a D cup is huge, even though that's actually pretty close to the German average.

Custom-made bras: How the Cupped idea works

As someone who hasn't worn a bra in years—I usually feel constricted and unable to breathe even if I'm in the right size—the Frankfurt woman's approach piqued my interest. Perhaps my aversion to bras could really be rooted in the fact that I've always worn ill-fitting bras?

Only a test can provide an answer. The process is quite simple: Before placing an order, detailed measurements must be taken: under and above the breasts, for example, while standing and lying down. Detailed instructions for each step can be found online.