LSKD has expanded its approach to inclusive activewear with the launch of a new sports bra designed specifically with women who have experienced breast cancer and breast surgery.
The new Empowered Sports Bra is part of the Australasian activewear brand’s 2026 Breast Cancer Awareness Collection and was developed in collaboration with 10 members of the LSKD community who have experienced breast cancer and undergone surgery, including mastectomies.
The idea came directly from customer feedback, after women within the brand’s community identified a gap in LSKD’s sports bra offering.
“We received feedback from our community that we were missing a sports bra designed specifically for those who have experienced breast cancer and surgery. That feedback was the starting point,” said LSKD Senior Product Developer Anthea Fox.
“We worked with 10 community members to develop the bra from the ground up. From easier dressing to accommodating prostheses and reducing pressure around surgical scarring, every detail was shaped by their experiences and tested by them. We wanted to create something that helps women move with confidence, without compromising on comfort or functionality.”
Rather than adapting an existing silhouette, LSKD worked with the group to develop the bra around the challenges they faced when dressing, exercising, and finding comfortable support after surgery.
The resulting medium support style incorporates a front zip with a safety hook, allowing the bra to be put on and removed without the overhead reaching traditionally required by sports bras.
Internal side seams have also been repositioned to help minimise pressure around surgical scarring, while dual prosthesis entry and placement points at the side and shoulder seams provide greater flexibility for women using breast prostheses.
Recognising that sensitivity can remain an important consideration following treatment and surgery, LSKD incorporated an ultra-soft FLXCotton inner lining designed to reduce friction against the skin.
These specialised features sit alongside the performance elements expected from the activewear brand. The Empowered Sports Bra uses LSKD’s REP Fabric, offering four-way stretch, moisture-wicking, and quick-dry properties, with racerback shaping and targeted ventilation to support movement.
Importantly, LSKD has positioned the design as an additional option rather than a universal solution. Experiences following breast cancer treatment and surgery can differ considerably between women, meaning individual requirements for comfort, fit and support will also vary.
The collaborative development process reflects a wider movement within apparel towards designing with consumers rather than simply designing for them. By involving women with direct experience throughout the process, practical considerations that may otherwise be overlooked became fundamental components of the finished garment.
The Empowered Sports Bra forms part of LSKD’s wider 2026 Breast Cancer Awareness Collection, which includes 44 pieces across the brand’s activewear offering.
Five percent of total sales from the collection will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation to support breast cancer research. LSKD has donated more than $330,000 to the organisation through its ongoing breast cancer awareness initiatives.
Alongside fundraising, the 2026 campaign shares the stories of women within the LSKD community who have experienced breast cancer, extending the project beyond its product offering and highlighting the experiences that informed its development.
For an industry continually examining what inclusive design looks like in practice, the Empowered Sports Bra shows how listening directly to consumers can influence everything from garment construction and fabrication to seemingly small details that can significantly affect wearability.
