Getting Intimate with Rosa Faia

What comes to mind when you read “Lingerie”? Super models walking down a runway with loud, sexy and playful undergarments? Or do you think of french lace and vintage pin ups? Or how about what’s in your own drawer?

As a young woman growing up I have always had a complicated relationship between my undergarments, lingerie and how I felt about it all. I believe that every girl can remember her first “bra”. My mum took me to a local clothing store and bought me a Jockey sports bra. I felt less embarrassed because it was a sports bra and still felt “young” to me as I was 9 and I felt uncomfortable with the training bras that were at other stores that looked more like the “sexy” styles offered at lingerie stores.

Since then I have always had my undergarments divided into two categories, practical and pretty. Between my everyday nudes, black and whites that “just make sense” and the beautiful pieces that are less practical in colour, fabric and reserved for anything but everyday wear. The difficult imbalance with this was that the practical pieces never did anything to “boost” my confidence nor was I excited to wear them and the pretty pieces were less than practical or comfortable. The one similarity though? None of them really fit well and I was at a loss. When I would go into the typical mall lingerie store I would try to figure out these problems myself and rarely did I succeed, if ever. I always seem to run into the same problems such as, the band never felt tight enough and would always ride up my back, my shoulders hurt with straps digging in and leaving them red and finally the cups never offered the coverage I wanted. Getting no where fast I was relieved and excited when I was invited for an appointment with Amie of Melmira in Toronto along Olivia of Rosa Faia, a luxury German bra division of Anita.

Walking into Melmira was unlike any lingerie or bra store I have ever been to before. A beautiful white minimalist interior, you see no hanging bras, or overtly sexy images or blasting music with dimmed light. I was made to feel at ease and was over the moon about not being in a cotton candy coloured store. I approached the front desk to let the store clerk know that I was there to see Aimee. The two young women greeted me, offered me a seat and let me know that Amie and Olivia from Rosa Faia would be with me shortly. I took a seat and looked around the store, soothed by the light and airy space and as I said not a hanging bra in sight. In fact, the only “self serve” product in is a whimsically displayed Panty Bar.

Amie and Olivia came and welcomed me and we started discussing how my appointment, any woman’s appointment, would go when shopping at Melmira. Amie was going to take me into my own private suite where we would discuss my preference of bra style, what I am looking for in a bra and if I had any concerns about the bras I was currently wearing so that Amie could address those concerns and resolve them with her suggestions.

As I said earlier, there are no hanging bras in the store and in the private suite I was in, there was a wrap and a white tshirt. All very different from the typical experience in a lingerie store. Amie put me right at ease, talking about her own experience of looking for bras and how every woman has different needs and how those needs change as we get older. Amie is one of the co-owners and founders of Melmira, along with her sisters. Something I can relate to as I am so close with my two sisters.

Rosa Faia offers a wide selection of bras to meet the needs of their customers. Based in Germany and a division of Anita, a woman’s lingerie company that has been renowned for their innovation and quality of product. In speaking with Olivia I was immediately taken a back with the Rosa Faia brand and the business itself. Rosa Faia’s is a division of Anita which has been around since 1886. They are devoted to quality, innovation and have strong focus on Social Responsibility, something I value when making smart consumer decisions. I want a product, in this case a Rosa Faia bra, to be of the highest quality while not a the expense of those who manufacture the product. Rosa Faia and Anita are also leaders in manufacturing bras for women whom have had a mastectomy, creating a bra with prosthesis that is both beautiful and serves it’s purpose.

Amie brought me a selection from the current Rosa Faia collection all different styles and all offering something unique in their fit. I was expecting a fitting with a measuring tape, however Amie through her experience was able to look at me, how the bra I was wearing was fitting(not well) and knew my band and cup size right away. I was wearing a band that was too big and a cup that was too small which was causing the back of my bra to sit higher than the front and my straps to dig into my shoulders. Aimee showed me how all of the support from the bra actually comes from the gor of the bra, the part that sits between your breasts and should sit flat to your skin. As well, the band of your bra should, when done up, be able to sit around your chest without sliding down. The straps are not where the support should be coming from and when your band is ill fitting will overcompensate and dig into your shoulders(like what was happening to me).

I quickly fell in love with the transformation I saw with the Rosa Faia bras. Not only are they beautiful examples of craftsmanship and detailing with lace, silk, and cotton, they offer amazing support. I found out what the white t-shirt was for in the fitting room as Amie asked me to try it on over top of the bras I was wearing. She explained to me how they ask their customers to do this as it’s the most affective way to show the power of a proper fitted bra. It’s true, you really do stand taller and your clothing fits better. If you are going to invest in a wardrobe, why wouldn't you invest in your undergarments? Amie and I discussed this, the idea that one bra serves all purposes is kind of like suggesting one pair of jeans will serve all of your denim styles. Sure you can wear the same pair all the time but you won’t get the best their is to offer in style or fit. Melmira believes in building a bra wardrobe and to make it that much easier they keep on file the styles and sizes(some styles require a different size) you like, so that if someone wants to treat you to something you will actually wear and love they simply have to go to the front desk and give your name.

I ended up picking a beautiful bra from Rosa Faia’s collection, the Josephine, which is a three part cup and offers support and coverage all in beautiful lace, silk and design. I love the luxury this bra offers, a bra that is beautiful but supportive seemed impossible to me before this appointment. I love the gorgeous detailing of the floral lace both across the top of the cup, at the gor of the bra as well as the straps. If one of these stars were to show beneath my clothing I would not be embarrassed nor would I rush to adjust. After having tried on multiple styles from the Rosa Faia collection I am already planning my undergarment wardrobe and deciding on which bras work best for me and how they will work alongside and accentuate my fashion choices.

In changing how I think about my bras, I knew I also had to change how I thought about taking care of them and Amie and Olivia were more than happy to show me the best way to do so. From the beginning Amie showed me how we should all be storing our bras, laying them flat and open protects the shape of the cup and the integrity of the band-something that’s incredibly important after having learnt about where all the support comes from. When it comes to washing your bra, Olivia showed me the amazing product Rosa Faia offers to best care for your bras. It’s a fine mesh bag with a single zip so that your bras can go into the washing machine but not get damaged from being torn or twisted with your laundry. Finally, when washing your undergarments, what you use to clean makes a big difference. As someone with sensitive skin I have always been aware of how different detergent affects my skin and I am of the belief that if it harms my skin it’s probably harming the delicate fabrics of my clothes. Melmira sells Forever New, a fabric wash, made by the Toronto based company of the same name. I was first introduced to Forever New last year and love the product for it’s soft scent along with all of the benefits it offers in caring and cleaning your clothing and undergarments. The gentle formula uses plant derived biodegradable ingredients and is free from parabens, pthalates, and phosphates. When making an investment in your undergarment wardrobe and to ensure you are getting the very best it has to offer, following these three steps seems unquestionable and so simple.

I am so happy that I got to become closely acquainted with the Rosa Faia brand at Melmira. The experience of being fitted and learning about where the support, structure and benefits come from each style of bra was, without sounding dramatic, revelatory. I feel much more confident in making decisions about bras and knowing what to look for when looking for a different type of fit and style. Rosa Faia has so much to offer and I am excited to wear my Josephine bra, along with all the confidence that comes with it.