For women who have been through breast cancer, getting back into exercise can be about much more than simply finding the motivation to move. Sometimes, it starts with something as basic as finding something comfortable to wear.
That was the starting point for Australasian activewear brand LSKD, after women in its own community spoke about the lack of sports bras designed with their experiences in mind.
The result is the Empowered Sports Bra, a new medium-support sports bra developed alongside 10 women from the LSKD community who have experienced breast cancer and surgery, including mastectomies.
Rather than designing first and asking for feedback later, LSKD says the women were involved from the beginning – sharing what worked, what didn’t and what they needed from a sports bra that would allow them to move more comfortably.
Designed around real experiences
For some women, getting dressed after breast cancer surgery can involve challenges most of us would never think about. Reaching overhead may be uncomfortable, surgical scars can be sensitive and women who use breast prostheses need clothing that can accommodate them securely.
The Empowered Sports Bra has been designed with these considerations in mind.
A front zip and safety hook make it easier to put on and take off without having to pull the bra over your head. Internal side seams have also been repositioned to help reduce pressure around surgical scarring.
For women who use breast prostheses, the bra includes entry and placement points at both the side and shoulder seams, offering different options depending on individual needs.
The inside is lined with ultra-soft FLXCotton, designed to minimise friction against sensitive skin, while LSKD’s performance-focused REP fabric provides four-way stretch, moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties.
There’s also racerback shaping and targeted ventilation – because while comfort is important, this is still a sports bra designed for women who want to move.
More than a sports bra
The Empowered Sports Bra forms part of LSKD’s 44-piece 2026 Breast Cancer Awareness Collection, which launched yesterday (Tuesday 29th September)
The collection isn’t just about creating another pink campaign. Alongside raising awareness, LSKD is continuing its financial support of breast cancer research, with 5% of total collection sales being donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF).
The brand has donated more than $330,000 to NBCF to date through its ongoing support of breast cancer research and awareness.
This year’s campaign will also share the stories of women within the LSKD community who have experienced breast cancer – putting the people behind the awareness campaign firmly at the centre of it.
And perhaps that’s what makes the Empowered Sports Bra particularly interesting. It began not with a marketing idea, but with women saying, this is something we need.
Sometimes, listening is where meaningful change begins.
For more information, visit LSKD online and follow them on Instagram.