Been sourcing shapewear for a few weeks now for a new project, and here's something that became obvious fast: the entire industry is built around one body type, then it gets awkwardly retrofitted for everyone else.

A few things I learned digging into this:

• Most "tucking" gaffs on the market are designed with zero input from trans women — they're modified postpartum compression wear. The panel placement is wrong for the actual need.

• Chest binders sold on general marketplaces are wildly inconsistent in compression rating. Some restrict breathing more than they should, and almost none of them list a compression PSI or breathability spec.

• Sizing charts almost universally assume a cis body distribution (waist-to-hip ratio, chest projection), which means trans and non-binary customers are stuck ordering 2-3 sizes to find one that works, eating return shipping costs every time.

The fix isn't complicated — it's just that nobody bothered. Source from suppliers who make dedicated gender-affirming lines, publish real compression/sizing specs instead of generic S/M/L, and build a return process that assumes people will need to size-swap at least once.

Started building exactly that with Curve Theory. Early days, but if you've dealt with this problem — as a customer or a seller — curious what's been the biggest pain point for you. Always looking to make the sourcing smarter.