Why We Don’t Use Padding in Our Bras
At Billie Green, we design comfort-first bras that breathe, move, and support - without the unnecessary plastic. One question we often get is: “Why don’t your bras have padding?”
The short answer? Because padding isn’t all it’s made out to be.
What Bra Padding Is Really Made From
All bra padding is made from polyurethane foam, a plastic material derived from petroleum and laminated with heat to fabric. In other words, that soft “foam” cup isn’t natural—it’s a cocktail of chemicals designed to give lightweight moulding in a rounded shape.
A “cotton bra with padding” isn’t really a cotton bra at all - it’s a plastic bra with a thin layer of cotton on the outside. Brands love padding because it’s cheap and mass-produced. Just like the $100 polyester leggings we see everywhere, it’s another example of cheap plastic marketed as luxury.
Hot, Restrictive, and Unhygienic
Padding traps heat, sweat, and odour, and doesn’t move with your body. It’s the opposite of breathable. Worse, because foam absorbs moisture, it must be washed after every wear to prevent bacteria growth. And here’s the kicker - you must also dry it completely to avoid mould.
Knowing what we know about the unregulated fashion industry and how quickly some of the sports bras on the market dry, we would not be surprised if their padded sports bras were also using water repellant chemicals as finishes on their fabrics.
Why We Use Dual Layers Instead
Our bras are made with dual-layered natural fabrics, providing support, coverage, and comfort without polyester and nylon. This means the fabric itself does the work, moving and stretching naturally with you. It’s the breathable, body-kind way to create structure and coverage.
Other brands rarely do this because two fabric layers double their costs—and padding is simply cheaper. But we believe your comfort, health, and the planet are worth it.
Shop here for our dual layered First Bras
Shop here for our dual layered Sports Bras
Our Dual Layered Contour Bras
Our contour bras have been designed as the next step up - when young people feel ready to move from crop to a first real bra. These are also ideal for younger tweens who want a bit more support and separation (which can add to comfort).
You will notice our bras have a little dart in the fabric. This is unavoidable for a bra with no foam and minimal synthetics (just 7% spandex for stretch). It's a premium 'cut and sew' technique. The dart is barely visible under tops and if your teen finds it too obvious, it is likely the bra is too big for her, or she might like to avoid skin-tight tops when wearing this style. The dart does not show beneath school uniforms for example.
Shop here for our dual layered Contour Bras
Why We Don’t Use Cotton or Linen Padding
Natural fibres like cotton or linen can’t be made into foam without becoming heavy and absorbent, turning into a bacteria trap once wet. So while we love these fibres for clothing, they don’t make sense as padding.
The Environmental Cost
Polyurethane foam doesn’t just harm your skin—it harms the planet. Like all plastics, it sheds microplastics with every wash, releases toxins during manufacturing, and never breaks down in landfill. This subject deserves a whole blog in itself.
A Message to Parents
As parents, it’s up to us to help our kids understand what’s really in the clothes they wear. We can teach them to check their labels for polyester and nylon, and to recognise how natural fibres feel - softer, cooler, and more breathable.
Encouraging our kids to embrace their own natural growth and choose clothing that respects their skin and development helps build body confidence and awareness early on.
When they understand why natural fabrics matter - for their comfort, health, and the planet - they’re empowered to make better choices for life.
