How to adjust or replace a bra strap
Short answer: Most straps can be adjusted with the slider. If the elastic in the strap itself is spent, the strap can be replaced with a new one of the same width. Start by adjusting, and replace the strap only if that does not help.
Start with the slider
Most bra straps have a slider you can move to make the strap shorter or longer. Try that first, because it takes two minutes and needs no tools. Move the slider and try the bra on in front of a mirror, so you can see how the strap sits on the shoulder.
How a strap should sit
A strap should lift two centimetres from the shoulder and no more. If it sits tighter it presses, and if it sits looser it slips. Adjust both straps equally so the bra does not pull crooked. Check the length with your arms down, because that is how you wear it for most of the day.
When the slider is at its limit
If the slider is pushed all the way and the strap still sits loose, the elastic in the strap is spent. More adjusting will not help. The material has lost its spring, and you have to replace the strap or sew it shorter. Also check that it is not just the slider that has slipped.
Check the band under the bust first
Before you spend time on the straps, check that the band under the bust is snug enough. If it is loose, new straps will not help much. If the band sits well but the straps slip, the straps are what need fixing. Put the bra on and feel how it sits against the body first.
Buy a loose strap in the same width
Buy a loose strap in the same width as the old one. The width matters because the strap has to fit the rings and slider on the bra and spread the pressure on the shoulder. Take the old one to the shop or measure the width in millimetres, so you know the new one fits.
How to replace the strap
Most straps are hooked on with small rings that can be opened with pliers or a fingernail. Open the ring, take off the old strap and attach the new one. If the strap is sewn on, the seam must be unpicked and sewn again. See our bamboo bra without underwire.
Shorten a strap without a new slider
If the strap cannot be adjusted, you can sew a small pleat and stitch it down. It is a quick fix, but it cannot be adjusted afterwards, so be sure of the length before you sew. Try the bra on with a pin in the pleat first, to see whether the length is right.
Why straps slide down
Most often the band under the bust is too loose, not the straps. A loose band makes the bra ride up at the back and pulls the straps down over the shoulders. Try fastening it on a tighter row of hooks if there are several. If it sits well there, the straps are easier to adjust.
When it cannot be saved
If the band under the bust is slack too, the whole bra is finished. The straps carry only a fifth of the support, so a new strap does not save a bra whose band has lost its grip. Then it is better to find a new one. See our bamboo sports bra and bamboo underwear for women.
Frequently asked questions
How tight should a strap sit
So that it can be lifted two centimetres from the shoulder. If it sits tighter it presses, and if it sits looser it slips. Adjust both straps equally and try the bra on with your arms down.
Can you shorten a strap without a new slider
Yes, sew a small pleat and stitch it down. It cannot be adjusted afterwards, so measure and try it on with a pin first, before you sew the pleat in place with thread.
Why do the straps slide down
Most often because the band under the bust is too loose, not the straps. Check the band first, and adjust the slider afterwards if the straps still slide down.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
