Sensor fabric could benefit bra makers

WOLLONGONG , Australia, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Researchers at Australia's University of Wollongong said they have developed an "intelligent fabric" that could lead to the production of more comfortable bras.

The researchers said as many as 80 percent of women are thought to be in danger of pain or nerve damage from not wearing the right bra. They said their new fabric includes built-in sensors that detect movement while walking or jogging, The Telegraph reported Monday.

"Our results show that the fabric sensors are suitable to monitor breast motion and brassiere function," the researchers said.

They expressed hope that the new fabric will help bra designers to test how well their products perform and in what ways they can be improved.

"Brassiere designers will have the ability directly to assess the effects of changes to each brassiere component," they said.