Estonian startup’s founder advocates for women’s confidence with innovative bra design and new funding

Tallinn-based startup Symmetrista has raised €120K to advance the production of its Signature bra, designed specifically for women who have undergone breast reconstruction after breast cancer. Addressing the challenges of breast asymmetry, the bra is crafted to offer a tailored fit and everyday comfort for users. With the new funding, Symmetrista plans to enhance manufacturing processes and expand its market presence, targeting regions including the US, UK, and various European countries. The company aims to secure additional investment in the future to broaden its product line and grow internationally.

Symmetrista is an Estonian startup focused on designing bras specifically for women with uneven breasts, a demographic often overlooked by the lingerie industry. Founded by Merlin Seeman, who faced challenges in finding suitable bras for her own asymmetry, the company aims to empower women by creating products that mask breast differences and enhance overall silhouette.

Symmetrista’s bras are crafted with an emphasis on quality and comfort, utilizing premium materials to ensure a proper fit. The brand also prioritizes sustainability by sourcing materials ethically and implementing eco-friendly practices in its operations, positioning itself as a socially responsible player in the lingerie market.

Symmetrista’s founder, Merlin Seeman, highlighted that in addition to focusing on prevention and treatment, attention should also be paid to the well-being and self-esteem of women who have survived the disease and completed cancer treatment.

“Breast reconstruction, while providing relief, often brings new daily challenges, and women who have overcome serious illness may face breast asymmetry, significantly impacting their confidence and quality of life. Therefore, our aim is to offer a bra that allows women to feel feminine and comfortable in every situation, every day,” said Seeman.

The Signature bra is the result of extensive research, measurement, and prototyping and is suitable for everyday use by women who have undergone lumpectomy or mastectomy as part of their breast cancer treatment and have had their breasts reconstructed. The product is also suitable for women who still have some of their natural breast tissue.

The bra’s production process uses molds created by the Symmetrista team, taking into account the anatomy of women and various breast size differences. The technology, developed in cooperation with a German manufacturer, allows for the production of bras where one cup—either left or right—can be 2, 3, 4, 5, or even up to 7 sizes larger. In Symmetrista bras, the difference in cup sizes is not visually detectable.

Breast asymmetry can also be congenital or arise due to hormonal changes or breastfeeding. Symmetrista bras were born out of a personal need to create a bra for women whose breasts are different sizes.

“Symmetrista bras are asymmetrically designed for asymmetric bodies, and this journey has taken me over 15 years. I am sincerely happy and grateful for the result, and I am very pleased to share the fruits of many years of work with other women who need this for various reasons in their lives,” Seeman shared from personal experience.

Breast asymmetry is a common characteristic – a survey conducted in the United Kingdom by research firm Norstat found that of the 740 women aged 18 to 83 who were questioned, 25%, or 188 women, reported breast asymmetry. This means there are potentially 2.3 million women in the UK alone who could benefit from the bra created by the Estonian startup.

Symmetrista has raised €120,000 from investors to develop and produce the Signature bra and is preparing for future fundraising rounds to expand its product range and enter new markets. The company’s business is focused on international markets, with current focus on the US, UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, and also Estonia. Symmetrista bras are available for purchase via the company’s online store.

Merlin Seeman is a managing partner at Hedman Law Firm and a sworn advocate specializing in advising technology companies. She is also one of the founders of the coding school kood/Jõhvi, a board member of the Estonian Service Industry Association, and the vice-chair of the European region of the International Bar Association. Seeman is also a co-founder of the Estonian startup GDPR Register.

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