Conversations with Women Who Triumph- For Your Bits Founders
Posted on March 07, 2022
Conversations with women, Empowerment
In celebration of International Women's Day, we wanted to shine a spotlight on two women who triumph, in both life and business. Meet Sophie & Bianca, founders of the online lingerie store 'For Your Bits'. The first of its kind, For Your Bits (BITS) celebrates the female form, providing access to a range of lingerie brands and sustainable products, just for your bits. BITS empowers women to celebrate their bodies, and has a lot of fun in the process (head over to their Instagram account for a taste). So, let's meet the founders...
Tell us a ‘bit’ about how the For Your Bits brand was established.
Bianca: Soph and I started BITS as we wanted to make shopping for intimates a fun experience (rather than a dreaded one), and a more relevant one – one that everyone felt they could be a part of. Ultimately, we wanted to create a place that we wanted to be a part of, because there wasn’t an alternative that we both felt connected to. We were seeing lots of great intimates brands doing really cool things, and new and interesting emerging brands – many of them Australian - and we didn’t feel there was the platform (or retail experience) to match them. So, that’s where BITS came in, we needed to create a one-stop shop that catered to everyone - all bits, all boobs, all bodies, all demographics, all life stages. A trusted go-to for everyone’s intimate needs.
What are some of the key ingredients for Bits’ success?
Sophie: I think the key success factor has been our community. The fact that so many other women, like us, were ready for a more inclusive and supportive way to shop and talk about intimates. Our customers, our brands, our partners… everyone is super supportive and striving for the same goal.
What is your definition of a strong, triumphant woman?
Sophie: To me, a strong woman, has the courage to be herself, to follow her own path, and she allows herself to be vulnerable. A triumphant woman knows it’s okay to fall and get back up again.
Bianca: Being triumphant can mean so many things… immediately I am thinking of the incredibly talented sports people who win gold medals for working really hard (I am not that person, ha!). But there is triumph in everyone’s day – sometimes it is not hitting snooze that second time, reading the book you promised yourself you would before bed, or… starting a new business. Whatever that moment is for you it’s about giving yourself the opportunity to follow through with your commitment.
Can you tell us about a woman who has had the biggest impact to your life?
Sophie: My life has been surrounded by women. I’m one of three sisters, I went to an all-girls high school and working in fashion and beauty for my entire career, most of my bosses and colleagues have been women too. So for me, it isn’t so much a single woman that has influenced my life (although Mum would have to get a lot of cred there) but the collective of “women” that has had the biggest impact on me. Being surrounded by so many women and working in an industry where women dominate, I’ve always had a sense that women can achieve anything and do whatever they want to do. I’ve never seen my gender as an obstacle. I also feel incredibly grateful to have had so many women in my corner, and to have been influenced by so many women with different points of view. I truly believe every woman deserves to be put on a pedestal.
How important is it for women to lift each other up and what does that mean to you?
Bianca: Whilst it shouldn’t just be our own job (it really should be everyone’s!) one of the reasons why I think over indexing on supporting each other is so important is because, it is clear, women are highly-critical of themselves and, in turn, of other women around them. By building up our own community, we can break free of this environment for ourselves, and each other, and change that narrative.
What has been your biggest achievement to date?
Sophie: A few years ago I would have answered with a list of career achievements. But now I would definitely say that becoming an aunty is my biggest achievement to date. Not that I had to do much to make that happen 😊, but my niece and nephew are definitely what I’m most proud of.
Bianca: I think it would have to be getting through the last few, very strange, years with a new business on the other side of it. As it has been for everyone, the pandemic has thrown everyone’s’ world upside down. But, for me, to have created BITS with Sophie during that time is an achievement I will forever be grateful for.
What’s your favourite quote?
Sophie: I love this quote by Rainer Maria Rilke that I first saw at the end of Taika Waititi’s film Jojo Rabbit. It really hit me when I first saw it. I think it’s a really beautiful way of saying ‘this too shall pass’ and to me, it really inspires a feeling of hope and sense of just sitting with the hard stuff.
"Let everything happen to you
Beauty and terror
Just keep going
No feeling is final"
- Rainer Maria Rilke
Bianca: Perhaps not so much as a quote and maybe more of a motto, but in those tiny moments of dread or worry or indecisiveness I like to remind myself… that’s life… C’est la vie!
What are your top three lingerie go-to items that should be featured in every closet?
Sophie: 1. Comfy undies: For me that’s a high waisted, full coverage brief! I love the sloggi Maxi Briefs.
2. Strapless bra: With a little bust, I wear a lot of off the shoulder tops and dresses, so a strapless bra has been a staple in my wardrobe since about 1999. I wear the Beautiful Silhouette Bra.
3. Something Lace: While I’m a huge fan of basics, there is definitely something about wearing lace that gives me an hidden sense of confidence. I like something luxe like the Amourette Charm Lacy Wired Padded Bra in black.
Bianca: Sophie made a joke that I should list the Triumph Sheer Minimiser as my 1, 2 & 3 favourite products that everyone should own… but it’s not a joke… it really is my ultimate everyday bra… I think I have about 7 of them on rotation… and everyone should have them in their closet! Change is as good as a holiday though, so if the Sheer Minimiser stayed at # 1 and # 2 position, #3 would go to a wireless bra for weekend jobs, working from home, or pottering around doing chores. That would need to be the Triaction Wellness Wirefree Bra – I know it’s for low impact sport, but vacuuming at home for someone with F cup bits is basically like playing basketball!
We loved getting to know Sophie & Bianca better (thank you for your time ladies)! Don't forget to head over to BITS to explore more...