Do your bra straps keep slipping?

The Bra Barrette as a fashion accessory

Lara Merriam-Smith was grading papers for her geology class two years ago when she finally got fed up with her falling bra straps.  She pulled out a paperclip, fashioned it into a double-ended hook, and pulled her straps together in the back.

It wasn't exactly an elegant solution, but it was the start of something really big: The Bra Barrette.

Lara loved the functionality of her new creation and just knew there was a product out there to meet her needs.  After scouring the internet, she could only find very practical and functional (read "ugly") connectors for bras.

Most people would have given up there, but Lara didn't.  She kept tooling with her product until she liked it - adding charms and a little bit of bling to the Bra Barrette for use with spaghetti strap tops and dresses. 

Lara wore her Bra Barrette often, and a trip to Maui convinced her to take it seriously as a business.  Every retailer asked her about it and wanted to sell it.

Lara is a smart woman, so she immediately sought a design patent and is now working on the utlity patent.  She then found a manufacturer for her product who conforms to her environment and social beliefs.  Her products are packaged by a team of 11, including some part-time moms who work while the kids are in school along with employees from Work Opportunities, a Bellingham company that provides job opportuntiies for physically and mentally challenged people. 

The biggest hurdle Lara has had to face is the newness of her product.  Because it is not a new take on something already out there, people do not intuitively know how to use it.  She has done an excellent job of advertising it herself and on her website, and her packaging also has pictures to demonstrate how to attach it and options for wearing it.

In less than one year Lara has gone from her first trade show to a company of 11 employees and a new major distribution deal through Fashion Forms, the company that sells lingerie accessories to department stores all over the US, Canada, and Europe, including Macy's.  And since 2009 has been been dubbed the "year of the back" by designers, her business will only grow.

Next year she plans to add a larger Bra Barrette for broader backs as well as a smaller version for girls to wear with their summer tops. 

At the end of our conversation I asked Lara what she would say to women out there at the "paperclip" stage of a new invention.  She recommended they surround themselves with positive people and ask good questions. And then just go for it!

Sage advice from a successful inventor, and very similar to another success story:  Spanx.  I think we are looking at the next Spanx-sized success story.