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The Strapper Solution
by Rebecca Klein
One night, back in the early '90s, Michelle Ostaseski took a pair of scissors to a couple credit cards. She wasn’t closing accounts. This marked the grand opening of a future business venture.
Ostaseski used some old cards to cut out a rounded, “H” shaped prototype of what is now known as The Strapper — a bra accessory designed to rest between a woman’s shoulder blades, reign in her bra straps, convert regular bras to racer-back and also offer a quick fix for slipping straps. Ostaseski, then working in Manhattan’s garment center, started brainstorming for a bra solution after noticing a group of women at a bar with their bra straps showing.
Lacking the money to pursue a patent, Ostaseski’s prototype sat in a drawer for nearly a decade until her then boyfriend, now husband, encouraged her to run with her idea. She then spent thousands of dollars to pay an invention company to bring the product to life, but says the company didn’t deliver. She eventually found her own manufacturer and brought the product to market herself.
Now in its fifth year of sales, The Strapper (thestrapper.com) comes in a range of colors and neutrals and runs $5.99 for a single and $19.99 for a five-pack. It can be worn under racer-back tops, dresses, workout clothes and bathing suits and extend the life of older, stretched out bras by adding lift and support.
While most Strappers play a behind the scenes role, the made-to-order Swarovski crystal one ($149.99) can add some bling to the straps of a formal dress.
A portion of all Strapper sales is donated to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
Fittingly, Ostaseski, a new mom, recently launched a baby products company and is debuting with an expandable diaper bag, named after daughter, Lola James, who will never have to worry about her bra straps one day showing.
Michelle Ostaseski is generously giving away Strappers to some lucky readers. The first five people to email us at info@ModernBabiesAndChildren.com will each receive a five-pack. To check out The Lola diaper bag, visit babystos.com
