E42 Monica of Bravo Bella on Learning as Empowerment

E42 Monica of Bravo Bella on Learning as Empowerment

July 21, 2025 · 1h 29m

About this episode

Monica O’Rourke discusses her journey in bra making and the importance of community learning in lingerie education.

Sponsor: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Clo3D Foundations For Intimate Apparel Online Course⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use code: Underdressed for 20% off Find Monica here https://bravobella.teachable.com/ https://www.instagram.com/bravobellabras/ In this episode of Underdressed , we speak with Monica O’Rourke, founder of Bravo Bella and creator of the Bra Making Mentorship — a 10-month program designed to meet sewists where they are and guide them through the technical, creative, and often emotional journey of bra making. Monica shares how her upbringing in a family-owned fabric store shaped her maker mindset from an early age, and how she later combined her background in teaching math and science with her deep knowledge of bra construction to develop a unique and empowering approach to lingerie education. The conversation explores the complexity of bra making, from the technical nuances of fit and pattern alteration to the psychological barriers many people face when trying to make garments that work for their bodies. Monica emphasizes the importance of learning in community and reframing “mistakes” as discoveries — moments that move us forward in our craft and in our confidence. We also…

People in this episode

Host: Trudy Gardner

Guest: Monica O’Rourke

Topics covered

Keywords

Sponsors

Clo3D

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Bravo Bella

Products: Clo3D Foundations For Intimate Apparel Online Course

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