Updated at: 07-11-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

When and how to launch a motherhood-focused enterprise. The birth of a child doesn’t have to mean the end of your professional life, and starting a maternity business can be an excellent way to do so.

It’s not hard to get work done when there are newborns in the office because maternity clothes are often safe and comfortable. If you think a maternity business can benefit from your knowledge, here are several ways to get started:

Compile a list of why beginning a maternity business is a good idea.

Create a plan for the goods and services you intend to sell.

Make clothing prototypes that reflect potential customer wants and needs for such businesses.

Find companies that produce equivalent goods

Social media and other in-person gatherings can be used to connect with local mothers.

Get in touch with people you know who may be interested in what you have to offer.

The question then becomes, “Why wait?” Now is the time to begin.

17 Steps to Starting a Maternity Wear Production Business

1. Understand the Industry

In the past, pregnant women would try to hide their growing bellies by dressing only in maternity clothes. Maternity garments, however, are increasingly recognized as fashion items, thus more and more pregnant women are paying attention to how their outfits fit throughout pregnancy.

Pregnant women in the workforce and style-conscious women are driving this shift in women’s attitudes about maternity apparel. This is what has fueled the industry’s consistent expansion, not just in the United States but around the world.

With their increased spending power, working pregnant women have been a major force in the industry’s growth, particularly as they have spent more on maternity clothes.

Celebrities and fashion models’ influence has expanded women’s options for what to wear during pregnancy, which has contributed to a shift in the way women generally dress.

Your Guide to Starting a Maternity Clothing Line

Although the market for maternity clothes has been expanding, this is not the case on a worldwide scale, where the impact of changing birth rates is becoming increasingly significant. For example, Monaco’s birth rate was 6.94 babies per per 1,000 residents, the world’s lowest.

Statistics showed that Switzerland had 9.53 cases per 1,000 people, Bulgaria 9.32 cases per 1,000 people, Austria 8.67 cases per 1,000 people, and Germany 8.30 cases per 1,000 people. This has been detrimental to the market as a whole. The high percentage of unemployment was also a contributor to the sluggish expansion of the maternity clothing sector.

The emergence of new markets in less developed nations, however, presents a potential for expansion. A rising number of pregnant women in the workforce is also anticipated to fuel future expansion in the maternity clothing industry.

Dresses, bottoms, shirts, tunics, nightwear, and undergarments are the main product categories in the maternity wear market. Industry analysts predict that maternity tops, including both corporate and informal options, will continue to dominate the market.

Markets for maternity clothes can be broken down by geography into the aforementioned regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. Because more women in these regions will be able to enter the workforce as a result of rising incomes, consumers in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa may anticipate a significant increase in demand. Recent studies have revealed that many expecting mothers continue to enjoy working well into their third trimesters.

In order to survive and thrive over the long term, businesses in this sector engage in a number of different tactics, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, geographical expansion, partnership, and product innovation.

Sales of maternity clothes fell as a result of the global economic downturn and pregnant women’s overall lack of interest in spending money on maternity clothes. Since 2014, however, the industry has been on an upward trend, so such concerns are no longer valid.

Despite income fluctuations in certain countries because of economic policies that have resulted in low birth rates, the United States has maintained the biggest market for maternity apparel, especially among industrialized nations, with an annual average of nearly 4 million babies born.

As a result of celebrity pregnancies, maternity clothes have become increasingly fashionable in recent years. Pregnant women can still appear put together and feel comfortable in their clothing thanks to the rise of the online shopping business, which is also a major influence.

As a result, existing maternity clothes have undergone several changes, and new players have entered the market. Even the most well-known companies are working to keep up with the competition by improving their maternity apparel.

2. Conduct Market Research and Feasibility Studies

Demographics and Psychographics

Women who are pregnant make up the vast majority of individuals seen wearing maternity garb, both demographically and psychologically. There is a need for maternity clothes in department stores, boutiques, and shopping malls because these establishments cater to pregnant women and the men and women who buy them as gifts for them.

Women often wear maternity clothes to hide their bellies, and there is a wide variety of options available. For this reason, any maternity wear manufacturing venture worth its salt would do well to target a broad spectrum of women.

3. Decide Which Niche to Concentrate On

Doing extensive market research before launching a firm is crucial since it will help the entrepreneur understand the competitive landscape and identify profitable niches.

However, it is also important to undertake specialty research so that you don’t waste time and money making clothes that no women will want to buy. In order to attract a sizable portion of your target demographic, a business operating on a grander scale may need to focus on a narrower set of products and services. The following are some niche areas you can focus on within this industry:

  • Wedding Dresses
  • Bras for pregnant women
  • Pants for Motherhood
  • Shirts for expectant mothers, both knit and woven
  • Clothing Specifically for Pregnant Women
  • Accessories for Pregnancy

The Level of Competition in the Industry

The size of the firm and the consumers it aims to serve determine the amount of competition in the maternity wear production industry. When pregnant, most women don’t care about designer labels and instead search for loose, comfy clothing.

A maker of maternity clothes can establish a business anywhere in the country by contacting shopping centers, department stores, and boutiques to stock their products. When purchasing apparel, what consumers really want is to find items that are not only functional, but also economical.

The United States isn’t the only place where you can find companies making maternity clothes. Consequently, if you’re thinking of going into business for yourself, you can expect to face competition not just domestically but internationally as well, especially now that the internet has made it feasible for consumers to purchase maternity clothes from other nations.

4. Know Your Major Competitors in the Industry

It’s no secret that competition for consumers’ attention is fierce in the maternity clothing manufacturing sector. Brands that thrive in producing high-quality maternity clothes at reasonable prices while still providing exceptional customer service stand out.

A few of the most well-known American manufacturers of maternity clothes are listed here.

  • Singing, “Jojo, Maman, Baby”
  • In the Range of Liz
  • She is Isabella Oliver
  • Corporation of Triumph Garments
  • Company Name: Destination Maternity
  • TG&Y Corp.
  • Manufacturers of Divine Bras
  • The lone Pea in the Pod

Economic Analysis

Because there are more pregnant working women, the maternity clothing industry has been growing. The growing demand in the business is largely due to countries like India, where the need for maternity clothes has increased. The maternity clothing industry is expected to be worth $13 billion by the end of 2019.

The market for maternity clothes is predicted to expand at a CAGR of over 2% between 2015 and 2019. When competing with one another, businesses in this sector typically have to focus on elements like quality, basis of comfort, variety, quality, color, and design.

Recent low birth rates in nations like Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Monaco, Singapore, and Japan have been a major obstacle for the expansion of the maternity apparel business. The economic downturn and the accompanying rise in the unemployment rate are just two examples of external forces that have had an effect on the business sector.

Women are increasingly opting for form-fitting maternity clothes rather than loose-fitting ones to show off their growing bellies. As a result, high-tech fabrics, which typically include a lot of flexibility and hence are more comfortable for these women to wear, have become increasingly popular.

5. Decide Whether to Buy a Franchise or Start from Scratch

With no surefire way to realize their dreams, new business owners must make a choice between several potential directions for their venture. Since every possibility has both benefits and drawbacks, it’s important to carefully consider them all before settling on a course of action.

While the retail side of the maternity apparel industry is ripe with franchising prospects, the production side is lacking in similar options. As a result, would-be producers will need to either start from scratch or acquire an already established business.

No of the size of your business, starting from scratch can be intimidating. You’ll be responsible for everything from hiring personnel and securing funding to designing and manufacturing your products and marketing them to consumers.

Having a thorough business plan in place can help an entrepreneur get their firm off the ground with fewer hiccups since it simplifies many of the choices and moves that need to be made along the road.

6. Know the Possible Threats and Challenges You Will Face

As an entrepreneur, you should always be ready for the unexpected, and that includes the inevitable dangers and problems that will arise as you launch and grow your business. Some dangers and difficulties can be easily surmounted, but when they arise, all you can do is wait them out and cross your fingers.

Existing maternity wear manufacturers are a threat to your startup, as is the fact that consumers may be wary of purchasing from a company with which they are unfamiliar. Additionally, during economic downturns, expectant mothers may opt to wear their own clothes instead of buying new maternity clothes.

Starting a Business on Maternity Leave - What you need to think about - MyBump2Baby

Choosing a legal entity for your business is important since it will affect not just the day-to-day operations of your company but also its growth potential. If you want your business to succeed, it’s important to do your homework before forming a legal entity, as choosing the wrong one can stunt your company’s development.

If you’re serious about getting your firm off the ground, you need form a legal corporation to operate under. In the United States, prospective business owners can choose from a number of different legal entities. While it’s tempting to go with the simplest option, keep in mind that the more complex your business is, the more you’ll need to choose a legal entity that provides adequate protection.

Even though you can technically launch a maternity apparel manufacturing company as a sole proprietor, doing so leaves you exposed to personal liability since this business structure affords no protection to the owner’s assets.

Most entrepreneurs today may take risks that they wouldn’t dare take if their business was a sole proprietorship or a partnership because of the protections afforded by legal structures such as a S Corporation, C Corporation, or Limited Liability Company (LLC).

Choosing the right type of legal entity for your business is important, so it’s smart to have an attorney look it over before making a final decision. This is because the appropriate legal structure for your maternity apparel manufacturing business will rely on the rules of the state in where you are based, and only a lawyer can advise you on this.

8. Choose a Catchy Business Name

If you don’t choose a name for your maternity apparel manufacturing company that both identifies the company and distinguishes it from competitors, you might as well give up on getting the firm registered at all. Naming a business can be difficult since you want a name that stands out from the crowd while yet being easily pronounced and remembered.

Here are some creative company names that could work for your maternity clothing manufacturing firm:

  • Clothes for New Mothers
  • Care and Use by Mom
  • Clothes Covered with Baby Powder
  • Those Adorable Clothes Motherhood Puts On
  • Pregnancy Clothes by Diane D.

9. Discuss with an Agent to Know the Best Insurance Policies for You

Insurance policies are a necessary component of launching a business in the United States. This is true regardless of the kind of the firm or the sector in which it operates. However, your insurance needs will vary from those of someone supplying a more straightforward service, depending on the nature of your business. If something were to happen to a customer or employee while you were running your business, having insurance would save you from having to spend more money than necessary. You may want to consult with an insurance agent or broker if you’re unsure of the types of coverage you require.

If you want to launch a maternity apparel manufacturing company in the USA, you should check into the following mandatory insurance coverages.

  • Insurance Against Loss and Damage to Others
  • Industrial Building Insurance
  • Protection Plans for Tools
  • Protection Plans for Employees
  • Insurance against Unexpected Losses
  • Commercial General Liability Coverage
  • Policies That Cover Everything

10. Protect your Intellectual Property With Trademark, Copyrights, Patents

Since you will be creating your own designs, you have the right to copyright protection under the United States Constitution and Title 17 of the United States Code, so it is crucial that you apply for intellectual property protection for your manufacturing business. If you take your business seriously, you should hire an attorney to register your designs with the U.S. Copyright Office so that a public record of your copyright can be maintained.

If you don’t want your designs stolen, you can’t afford to take intellectual property protection lightly. Find a lawyer who will modify the requirements to fit your business.

11. Get the Necessary Professional Certification

As long as they have the capital, anyone can launch a maternity wear manufacturing company; no special training or credentials are required. A business owner need only hire qualified individuals to create fashionable maternity clothes.

Additionally, professional certification in areas such as management, finance, and marketing can be earned by the entrepreneur to help in the efficient operation of the business; however, none of these professional certificates are considered mandatory.

It is standard practice to have all necessary legal documentation in place before launching a firm. After making the decision to launch a company, the next step is to secure the necessary legal registrations and a catchy name. You should hire an attorney to assist you with any legal paperwork you may require.

Some of the required paperwork for your maternity clothing manufacturing enterprise includes;

  • Incorporation Document
  • Business Organization Operating Agreement
  • Evidence of Contract
  • Strategy for Success
  • Authorization and License for Business
  • Protection Plan
  • U.S. Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Social Security Number for Federal Taxes (TIN)
  • Accord Regarding Employment

13. Raise the Needed Startup Capital

You can’t just sit on a great concept for a business and expect it to stay that way; you need to take action, and that can only be done with money. One of the most crucial elements of launching a company is financial backing, as not having enough means the venture won’t get off the ground or will fail sooner rather than later.

The only way to convince investors to part with their money is to provide a thorough and well-thought-out business plan, so have one ready before you start approaching potential funders. Some potential sources of funding are outlined below.

  • You can fund a portion of your business using money you’ve saved and proceeds from the sale of assets.
  • Looking for a generous loan from loved ones
  • Submit an application for a loan from a commercial bank
  • Obtain seed money from a willing investor or company associate.

14. Choose a Suitable Location for your Business

When it comes to manufacturing maternity clothes in the modern era, it doesn’t matter where you set up shop; all you need is a website and a few deals with stores around the country to get your wares into the hands of the people who want to buy them.

It’s true that you can source a maternity clothing manufacturer from anyplace, but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider a few things first. When determining where to base your operations, it’s important to think about how large your firm will eventually become. With the right amount of planning and preparation, you may manage a successful maternity business out of your own home.

However, if you intend to operate a sizable enterprise, you will need to locate suitable quarters from which to do it. Make sure the facility is conveniently located so you don’t have to spend too much time transporting maternity clothes to stores.

In order to avoid breaking the bank in your facility search, it is a good idea to set a budget before beginning your search. This is especially important if you plan to hire a real estate agent. Check that the location you’ve settled on for your company is suitable for the people you intend to hire.

15. Hire Employees for your Technical and Manpower Needs

If you want to create a business that will guarantee consistent profit, this is as good as any other because there will always be pregnant women as long as there are sexually active females. You should realize that the fabric, the style, and the quality of maternity clothes are increasingly important to modern pregnant women.

It’s also important to discover what kinds of maternity clothes already exist and which market segment you can dominate. The amount of money you’ll need to get going is proportional to the size of your planned operation. You can expect to spend more money regardless of your size if you want to become a household name on a national scale.

Having the proper tools from the outset of the business is crucial, as they will help you operate more effectively and thus more quickly reach your objectives. Sewing machines, shears, edging machines, assorted fabrics, patterns, and threads are just some of the essentials you’ll need to get the ball rolling on your new enterprise.

In order to succeed, you need to build a firm foundation for your company by surrounding yourself with skilled employees. The roles of production manager, designer, dressmaker, logistics manager, marketing executive, customer care executive, accountant, security guard, cleaner, and driver are just few of the many that you may wish to fill.

It follows from the foregoing that you will require the assistance of at least 10 crucial individuals to achieve your aims.

The Service Delivery Process of the Business

To begin making maternity clothes, a business owner must first decide what kinds of clothes he wants to make. This will affect the size of the manufacturing space needed and the suppliers he contacts.

Getting in touch with the suppliers is crucial for gathering pricing information and deciding on a partnership. Make sure your vendors can be counted on for consistent quality. Write down or hire a designer to help you build the designs you have in mind. Create the dresses you want once you’ve ensured their legal protection under copyright statutes.

16. Write a Marketing Plan Packed with ideas & Strategies

Considering that marketing is a key revenue generator for firms, it’s no surprise that many organizations devote considerable time and effort to determining the best approach to this crucial function. If an entrepreneur is skilled in marketing, they will be able to anticipate the needs of their target market and work to address those needs by developing a product that meets the needs of that market.

Nonetheless, you should first undertake extensive market research on the firm so that you have an idea of what you are getting into before you start writing out what your overall marketing goals are and what techniques you may employ to reach them.

To further clarify your target audience and the standards they hold brands to today, market research is an invaluable tool. You can use this information to anticipate who your competitors will be and develop strategies to outperform them.

Though producing maternity clothes could be a lucrative venture, launching a new company is fraught with risk if the varying interests of all stakeholders aren’t taken into account from the start. The urge to become a national brand will be absent if your goal is to make maternity clothes for pregnant ladies in your own area only.

But no matter how big or small you plan to make your company, you need methods in place to communicate with your target market. It’s possible you may use the assistance of a marketing expert to develop tactics for you.

The success of your maternity apparel manufacturing enterprise depends on the following list of marketing strategies.

  • Give your marketing staff more leeway to help you get the word out about your maternity clothes.
  • Spread the word about your maternity clothing manufacturing enterprise by advertising it in print, radio, and television media.
  • Get your company included in the yellow pages as well as any relevant online directories.
  • Market your company using your many social media accounts.
  • Formally introduce your maternity clothes manufacturing company to major retail establishments like department shops, shopping centers, and boutiques.
  • Put up billboards all throughout the area you’re considering for your storefront.

17. Develop Strategies to Boost Brand Awareness and Create a Corporate Identity

Promoting one’s brand recognition and also developing a corporate identity undoubtedly contributes to a company’s success and longevity. Every company does something to raise its profile in the minds of its potential customers. Therefore, one benefit of publicity is that it helps a company break into its target market and secure a larger part of the market.

Successful firms that have been around for a while understand the value of investing in advertising and marketing, so they don’t mind setting aside a certain amount of money every year to do so. In this way, publicity can be seen as a double-edged sword: on the one hand, it raises a company’s profile, and on the other, it can bring in a lot of cash if handled well.

However, you need to do your homework in order to identify your target market, the niche you should pursue, your competitors, and the strategy that will not only raise your brand’s profile among your target audience but also provide you a level playing field in the marketplace.

Manufacturers of maternity wear once relied on retailers like department stores, shopping centers, and specialized boutiques to raise brand awareness among expectant mothers. However, with the advent of online shopping, not only can expectant mothers compare prices and styles across a wide range of options, but manufacturers are also under greater pressure to maintain high standards of production.

Here are some ideas for promoting your maternity clothing manufacturing company’s brand and developing its distinctive identity:

  • Make sure to hire someone to design a website where expectant mothers may learn about the different styles of maternity clothes you provide and where to purchase them.
  • Get the word out about your maternity apparel manufacturing company by advertising in motherhood- and women-focused online communities and blogs.
  • Put up appealing billboards in the neighborhoods where your enterprise is active to increase brand recognition.
  • Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can be used to spread the word about your maternity clothing manufacturing company.
  • Market your product or service in the press by writing articles about industry developments and submitting them to newspapers on both the regional and national levels.
  • Make a logo that is both unique and easy to recognize so that potential customers and the general public will immediately associate it with your company.

FAQs

How to Open a Maternity Boutique?

  1. Find your sweet spot by deciding what kind of maternity boutique you want to launch. You can start a maternity store for plus-size ladies, a consignment shop, or a high-end designer boutique.
  2. Depending on where your boutique is located, you may need a resale license or a certificate of assumed name in order to open for business.
  3. Find places to buy goods for your shop. If your target market is pregnant women, you can form wholesale accounts with maternity apparel and accessory makers and distributors, or you can purchase at garage and estate sales, peruse classified advertising, and sell clothing on consignment.
  4. Rent or purchase a building for your maternity store. If your market is pre-owned maternity clothes, you can save money by getting started with any of these alternatives to a physical store: an e-commerce site, an auction website, or a booth at a flea market.
  5. Make your shop comfortable and convenient for expecting mothers. Although some of your customers won’t be expecting mothers, the vast majority of them will be. Make sure the clothing racks and displays can be easily navigated and are not too close together, and set up a few comfy chairs around the store for pregnant ladies to relax on. Many pregnant mothers bring their older children shopping with them, so make sure none of your items is too high for them to reach, and consider setting up a play area.
  6. Do some advertising for your motherhood boutique. You can put out flyers at local day care centers, obstetrician offices, and other complimentary companies, create social media profiles, provide discounts only to local mother and play groups, and start a marketing blog.

Thinking of starting your own business? Maternity leave's the time to go for it | MadeForMums

How to start a business on maternity leave?

Three steps to launching a business on maternity leave

  1. Create something and check it for accuracy.
  2. What new mother has the time to do everything herself? Sourcing, upskilling, and outsourcing are all viable options.
  3. Put in some effort each day

Here’s how she did it

Come up with an idea, and try and validate it

According to Emily, the initial challenge was to identify a market need, or a “gap in the market.”

This procedure appeared to her as:

“I wanted to establish [Small Road] because I couldn’t find a cool snapback cap for my son anywhere online.”

However, Emily did not just guess; she checked to make sure:

I experimented with Google Trends to determine if there was interest in this topic. Instagram was also a great resource for my research into various products. It turned out that I had been right all along; there wasn’t anything on the market that met my needs, and the manner that modern mothers were dressing their children appeared to call for something new. After buying a few, I thought about how I wanted mine to be unique and went shopping.

Source, up skill and outsource

After Emily’s idea was proven viable, she moved on to product design and locating a manufacturer. She looked into a number of vendors, comparing their services and prices, before settling on one that provided the precise quality of product she required.

Emily, however, opted to design her hats from scratch to guarantee their uniqueness:

It was difficult at start because I had never done any kind of design work before. However, it became less difficult with practice.

Emily realized after she designed her headwear that she needed to establish a name for her business that people would buy. To do this, she utilized a range of strategies, including making use of her existing set of abilities, acquiring new ones, and employing outside help.

I used the marketing and public relations expertise I had gained in the past to establish my name in the market. Since I lacked expertise in some areas, I relied on the assistance of wonderful friends who were experts in those fields. I also made sure to always be learning something new by tuning into business and marketing-related podcasts and seminars.

Try to do something every day

Emily adds that every mom who wishes to follow in her footsteps during maternity leave should take away only one piece of advice from her, regardless of how much she accomplished during that time.

You must make up your mind to realize the dream no matter what stands in your way. This dedication is necessary if you are serious about getting started. There will always be other things that need your attention, but every day, do all you can to advance the company.

Emily claims that if you do this, your perspective will shift:

The way you look at things shifts when you make a habit of doing something. When you’re not letting stress get the best of you, you might feel more accomplished and confident in your abilities.

Where do you wear a maternity support belt?

For new mothers or anybody else who could use a little more support, a maternity support belt is a terrific investment.

While many mothers find an abdominal binder useful in the weeks following delivery but before they begin exercising again, others may prefer to wait until they need additional compression from the belt once they resume their exercise routine.

Always read and follow the care instructions carefully before putting on a new piece of clothing. Here are some examples of situations in which pregnant women would benefit from wearing support belts:

At night when in bed

Amid the humdrum of regular life at home or in the office

-When running mundane tasks like grocery

How can I flatten my tummy after C-section?

Women often worry about how to flatten their stomachs after giving birth. This isn’t a simple query, and you’ll likely need more than one response before you can make a decision that’s ideal for your unique physique and way of life.

The following are some suggestions that can help you reach your objective:

If it’s too soon, you could try this instead: Incorporate crunches and other core exercises into your program gradually (and don’t forget the support for your lower back).

Abdominal exercises should be limited if they create pain or harm instead of results if performed improperly. See a doctor or physical therapist as soon as possible so they can assist you determine which exercises are most beneficial for your condition.

Do not fret if it is already too late! This method will still help you achieve a flatter stomach: Cut out the soda and replace it with eight glasses of water a day. This is because the sugar in soda prevents your muscles from contracting effectively, preventing you from achieving a flat stomach.

With proper hydration, you can achieve a J-Lo-like hourglass figure. While increasing your protein intake will aid in your weight loss efforts, if soda is no longer helping, simply drinking extra water will do the trick.

Is it necessary to tie the tummy after delivery?

The umbilical cord must be severed at the time of birth. The midwife or doctor will use a string or clamp to secure it, and then cut through the knot. If you experience any bleeding after giving birth, this will assist.

Vaginal bleeding is usually little after childbirth; nevertheless, you may notice some stains on your pads after changing them. This is normal and does not indicate a problem. If you require any additional information, please consult your doctor.

Don’t worry too much about the possibility of undone stitches in the perineum (the area just inside and outside the vaginal entrance) just yet; just know that you will likely be able to feel it if it does happen.

How long should you wear a belly band?

As long as it doesn’t bother you, a belly band is fine to wear. Some people are skeptical about the product’s efficacy and simply wish to check it out for a short period of time.

But there are many who enjoy the way they feel and opt to keep them on day and night. The bands should be changed out on a regular basis.

Since incontinence bands often last anywhere from three months to an entire year with regular use, someone who has incontinence on a daily basis will likely be more interested in acquiring more than one.

Does a slimming belt have side effects?

Always look at what a slimming belt can’t achieve as a starting point. It will not cause you to reduce weight or remove fat overnight. Y

If you want to see weight loss on the scale, you’ll have to put in some serious effort, and it’ll take at least a couple of months. You shouldn’t count on this as a quick fix.

Can I wear a belly belt at night?

The answer is yes. Not only can you improve your health by wearing a belly band to bed, but you can also enhance your appearance and body contours while doing so.

It’s clear why those with larger bellies go toward this style of clothing: it provides the most support, which in turn alleviates pressure on the spine.

The most typical reason women buy these items is to hide their bellies in more formfitting clothing, such as dresses and even t-shirts.

Most people who wear belly bands will tell you that they do it to conceal medical difficulties, such as incontinence brought on by pregnancy or old age, from prying eyes.