Grail Bra Specialists owner Carmen Champagne and staff are celebrating the east side store’s fifth anniversary with a party that will also double as the grand opening of Grail’s new retail space.
The festival, which will be held at Suite 115 of the Ansonborough mixed-use development at 1040 Gaines School Rd., is scheduled to run from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday.
Grail originally opened in 2019 in the Village at Cedar Shoals shopping center across the street, offering professional bra fitting services and stocking band sizes from 26 to 60 and cup sizes from AA to S. Champagne said there’s no cost to come in and get fitted, and that “we strive to be a resource for everyone” by prioritizing body shape and comfort.
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“A bra that doesn’t make me uncomfortable at all”
Long before Champagne became an entrepreneur, the couple had their first professional bra fitting at a Snellville shop that closed and relocated out of state in 2020. Champagne described the experience as “a huge quality of life improvement,” and said it prompted her to do some deep internet digging about sizing calculations, shape factors and the product aspects of how bras can best be fitted to individual body types.
“That fitting was the first time I’d ever found a bra that didn’t cause me any discomfort,” Champagne says. “Interestingly,[Grail Bra Specialists]now have a large clientele of hers.”
Champagne, who lives in east Athens, started Grail on her own as a flexible way to make a living doing something she was interested in and be there for her kids while they were in school. While major chain stores offer bra fitting services, Champagne’s vision was to specialize in that particular niche and provide the service at the highest level possible. This includes taking appointments outside of business hours for customers who want to get fitted when there are no other customers in the store.
“Body shameless” zone
A sign in front of Champagne’s store reads, “Welcome to Grail. There’s no wrong fit here.” Before starting her own business, Champagne worked as a full-time animal keeper and exhibit specialist at Sandy Creek Nature Center for seven years. Rather than approaching retail from a sales standpoint, Champagne used her background in environmental education to create a collaborative fitting process that educates customers without pressuring them to buy anything.
“We all had our own experiences there and we don’t want anyone here to treat us the way we wouldn’t want to be treated,” Champagne said.
“This is a vulnerable space for a lot of people and things like boundaries and consent are incredibly important to us. Our ‘no body shaming’ policy applies no matter what bra you come in wearing. You’re welcome to come in and shop without any regard for us, but most people are looking for help and that’s what we’re here for.”
Grail Bra Specialists is open Tuesday through Friday from 11am to 6pm and Saturday from 1pm to 6pm. Walk-ins are welcome and more information on services and appointments can be found at grailbras.com.
