The journey to becoming a mother isn’t always glamorous – especially after you give birth and you’re trying to care for a brand-new human while also ensuring that you take care of yourself. In an effort to redefine the postpartum period as pretty and powerful is Lunnie, a community-led brand. “Starting with the nursing bra, Lunnie is revolutionary in that it’s leakproof, chic, and comfortable – the perfect blend of function and form,” explains Lunnie Founder Sarah Kallile.
After selling out of its first production run earlier this year, Lunnie nursing bras are back in stock in both black and pink and in size small through extra-large.
As Lunnie gears up for its second production run, Kallile reflected on her motivation for the brand and what she wanted to bring to moms in that sometimes-difficult postpartum era. “I was inspired to create Lunnie from my own postpartum and breastfeeding experience,” she says. “I’m a mom to three young girls – ages 4, 2, and 4 months. It always bothered me how there’s so many products and support for women during pregnancy, but after a mom gifts birth, she is often forgotten. Postpartum is a very challenging time physically, mentally, and emotionally. Moms deserve better support, whether it be products, community, or policies.”
The concept behind the bra was developed when Kallile was breastfeeding her daughter. She says she felt frustrated with a “frumpy” nursing bra and how it functioned. In search of an alternative, she decided to create her own product. She has a background in marketing and early-stage tech startups, so she had the knowledge, drive, and skills to research, poll, and develop what would become Lunnie.
“My findings concluded that 84% of moms are dissatisfied with their nursing bra,” she says. “The problem isn’t unique to me – it’s a universal pain point.”
Following the survey, she invited those who participated to become part of the Lunnie Hive community and product testers. After creating the first prototype with her mom, Sue, she managed to create a total of six prototypes before finalizing the design.
“I always describe Lunnie as a community-led brand, as these moms truly informed every aspect of this nursing bra to perfect,” she says. “The Dayton community of Lunnie Hive moms were integral to my product testing. In April 2022, I completed and won first place in the University of Dayton Flyer Pitch competition and took up a $50,000 grant. I’m super grateful to the Dayton community for their support.”
Kallile says that nursing moms who may be considering a Lunnie bra should know that it has a sewn-in, leakproof layer that is proven up to 6x more absorbent than leading nursing bras and pads. “The leakproof layer is very thin and completely invisible to the wearer,” she says. “The non-removable cups allow for the bra to reshape perfectly with every wash and feed. This functionality is unlike anything on the market. In fact, I’ve filed two patents for it.”
In addition to its absorption capabilities, Lunnie offers a flattering design, uses soft modal cotton, gold hardware, and has no wires. “I can confidently say the Lunnie bra stands up to the wear and wash test that nursing bras receive,” she says. “I’ve never had a leak show through and I feel amazing wearing it.”
As the brand grows throughout the remainder of 2022 and the start of 2023, Kallile says her goal is to expand the product line and add team members. “As a female founder, I make it a priority to work with other women and working moms whenever possible,” she adds.
You can purchase a Lunnie bra at www.lunnie.com. You can also become part of the Lunnie Hive community by following along on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.