We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Clementine Koplan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Clementine, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
For as long as I can remember, finding a bra that truly fit—without sacrificing comfort, elegance, or affordability—felt impossible. Like most women, I was stuck in the cycle of buying bras that were almost right but never perfect. The band was too tight, the cups gaped, the straps slipped, or the design lacked the sophistication I wanted. No matter how many styles I tried, nothing ever felt like it was made for me. And I kept wondering: Why is something so essential so difficult to get right?
That question stayed with me for years. Then, after researching the lingerie industry, I realized the real issue: the system isn’t designed for individual fit. Women are expected to fit into a handful of standard sizes, even though every body is unique. The options were either custom-made bras, which are expensive and take months to produce, or standard options that require compromises on fit, elegance, or comfort. I saw an opportunity to create a solution that brings together a perfect fit, comfort, elegance, and affordability, and I knew it was worth solving!
What excites me most is the opportunity to bring a fresh approach to an industry that hasn’t evolved much in decades. With advancements in technology and a deeper understanding of what women need, there’s real potential to improve the way bras are designed and made. At its core, Wear Clèm is about giving women a better option—one that prioritizes fit, elegance and comfort as a reasonable price point. Every woman deserves a bra that not only looks beautiful but truly fits and feels comfortable, and I’m excited to be part of that change.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’ve never been one to stay in my comfort zone for too long! I left France and, over the past 10 years, have lived in New York, Michigan, London, and Washington, D.C., working in journalism and crisis and litigation communications. But no matter where I’ve been or what I’ve done, I’ve always had a love for entrepreneurship, building something from the ground up, and finding ways to make things better.
That curiosity has shaped every step of my career, whether it was breaking down complex stories as a journalist, helping companies navigate crises, or now, tackling something just as frustrating but much more personal: finding a bra that actually fits.
I started out as a correspondent in Washington, D.C. for a French TV channel, covering politics and elections. That job taught me how to think fast, adapt, and communicate complex ideas in a way that resonates—all skills that, funnily enough, have been incredibly useful as an entrepreneur!
After a few years in journalism, I transitioned into crisis and litigation communications, helping companies and individuals navigate high-stakes situations.
Even while working in fast-paced industries, I’ve always been drawn to solving problems, especially ones that seem to go ignored for too long! And one issue that kept coming up, both for me and for so many women I talked to, was just how frustrating it is to find a bra that actually fits.
Let’s be honest: bra shopping is a nightmare. It’s either overpriced, uncomfortable, or a total guessing game. You’re forced to choose between custom-made bras that take months and cost a fortune or options that never quite fit right. I kept thinking: Why does something as essential as a bra still feel so outdated?
That’s how Wear Clèm was born. I wanted to create a lingerie brand that finally gets it right. One that offers a custom-like fit, without the high price or long wait times. Using innovative technology, we make bras that actually fit your unique shape, combining French-inspired elegance and fabric, everyday comfort, and accessibility.
What makes Wear Clèm different is that we’re not just another lingerie brand, we’re here to solve a problem that’s existed for too long. Women shouldn’t have to settle for bras that dig, gape, or just feel “meh.” Our goal is simple: to make beautifully designed, perfectly fitted bras that feel as good as they look, without compromise.
I’m so excited about this journey because, at the end of the day, a great-fitting bra isn’t just about comfort, it’s about confidence. It’s that feeling of putting something on and forgetting about it because it fits so well. It’s about making everyday moments effortless, elegant, and frustration-free.
I can’t wait for more women to experience what Wear Clèm has to offer. It’s time we stop settling and start wearing bras that truly fit us—not the other way around!
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Starting Wear Clèm has been one of the biggest tests I’ve ever faced! Very different from my previous jobs where challenges were high-stakes but often structured. Entrepreneurship is a constant mix of uncertainty, problem-solving, and pushing forward even when things don’t go as planned.
One of the biggest moments that tested my resilience was figuring out the production process. When I first set out to create a custom-fit bra brand, I knew I was trying to do something different, but I underestimated how complex lingerie manufacturing could be. Traditional bra production is optimized for standard sizing, so introducing custom elements at scale presented challenges. Many manufacturers were used to working a certain way and required large order volumes to justify the complexity of production. I had to rethink my approach and explore alternative solutions that would allow for mass customization while keeping production efficient.
At the same time, I was juggling a full-time job while building this company from the ground up. I joined a startup accelerator program to gain insights, connect with other founders, and refine my strategy, all while managing my existing responsibilities. There were days when it felt like I was working two full-time jobs, switching between high-pressure client calls and late-night research on manufacturing and product development.
But every time I felt stuck, I reminded myself why I started, because this is a real problem that women face every single day.
That experience taught me that resilience isn’t just about pushing through hard moments; it’s about adapting, rethinking strategies, and staying committed to the bigger vision, even when things get complicated. Wear Clèm is still evolving, and I know there will be more challenges ahead, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that persistence pays off.
Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?
When I started my business, I had no experience in manufacturing, and I was learning everything from scratch. I knew the problem I wanted to solve, but turning an idea into a real product, especially something as complex as a bra, was completely new to me!
Bras are one of the most complicated garments to make because they need to be both structured and flexible but they also need to fit snugly to the body. Even the smallest tweak in the pattern or fabric choice can completely change the fit, so every detail has to be just right. You have the band, the straps, the cups, the underwire, the bridge, the hook-and-eye closure, the side panels… so many different parts and all of them work together, which is why making a bra that fits well takes so much precision and expertise. I quickly realized that finding the right manufacturing partner wouldn’t be easy, especially because I was looking for a team willing to innovate and work on research and development with a young startup and limited budget.
At first, I worked with different sourcing agents across multiple countries, exploring factories in different regions, each with its own approach to production. I assumed things would move quickly, because there are so many options out there but it wasn’t the case at all. Bra making is such a complex expertise, it took months and months of trial and error, samples that weren’t quite right, miscommunications on specifications, and setbacks that forced me to go back to the drawing board. I initially thought the timeline would be much faster, but between learning the industry, researching manufacturing, finding the right partner, and then developing the perfect prototype together, the process ended up taking over a year.
On top of that, I was funding everything myself, which made things even more challenging. Without outside investment, every decision felt high-stakes for me! I had to be extremely strategic, making sure that every dollar spent was moving the business forward.
Eventually, after multiple rounds of testing and adjustments, I found the right manufacturing partner in Eastern Europe—a team that not only specializes in lingerie production but is also willing to collaborate on R&D, test new concepts, and work through the complexities of mass customization. That partnership has been key to finally bringing my idea to life!
Looking back, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that manufacturing takes time, so much more than I initially expected. Even with a clear vision, developing the right prototype requires multiple rounds of testing, refining, and problem-solving. I also realized that finding the right manufacturing partner is just as important as the product itself. It’s not just about technical capability but about shared vision, flexibility, and the ability to collaborate. Another major takeaway for me is that you don’t know what you don’t know. I went into this process thinking things would move quickly, but every step, from finding the right partner to material sourcing to fit adjustments, required more time than I had anticipated.
Manufacturing has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding parts of this journey. It’s been a test of patience, and adaptability for me!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wearclem.com/
Image Credits
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