Bras N Things

Bras N Things is an Australian lingerie retailer whose range has included bras, briefs, sleepwear, swimwear and related women's apparel. The brand emerged in the mid-1980s during a period when mainstream lingerie retail was dominated by relatively conservative designs, limited colour choices and functional presentation. Entrepreneur Brett Blundy identified an opportunity to make underwear more fashion-oriented and accessible, with more varied cuts and brighter colours. He was also an early retailer of G-strings as an everyday fashion product in the Australian market. Blundy's entry into lingerie came after he sold a controlling stake in the Jetts music-store chain in 1986. He initially took a franchise in The Bra Shop chain at Chirnside Park Shopping Centre in Victoria. Although the store primarily sold established branded merchandise, he gradually sourced and developed alternative product lines. One early order of 15 G-strings reportedly sold out in a single day, helping demonstrate demand for products that were then unusual in mainstream casual lingerie retail. The business subsequently changed direction through an agreement with franchisor Bryan Luca. Blundy transferred his three Victorian stores in exchange for four underperforming Bras N Things outlets in New South Wales and agreed not to trade under the Bras N Things name in Victoria at that stage. After expanding into South Australia and Queensland, the wider operation became associated with Brazin Limited. In 1990, when the network had reached about 60 stores nationally, Luca progressively sold the remaining Victorian Bra Shop outlets to Blundy. Those stores were eventually converted to the Bras N Things format, consolidating the brand's national presence. Bras N Things was later operated within the broader Brazin retail portfolio. In 1999, Brazin created Viva Lingerie as a separate lingerie concept aimed at a different customer segment, and it also acquired nine lingerie stores from Triumph International. These moves illustrate the group's attempt to cover multiple price and demographic positions rather than rely on a single retail identity. Ownership changed again in the late 2000s. By the end of 2008, BBRC had sold its controlling interest in Bras N Things to ANZ and IMF Investors. In November 2013, Brett Blundy and Sanity owner Ray Itaoui each acquired a 50 percent stake from those investors. The transaction returned Blundy to ownership and paired the lingerie business with another experienced Australian specialty-retail operator. The brand began international expansion in March 2016, opening its first South African store in Johannesburg. Its operating footprint has also included New Zealand and the United States, although Australia remains its principal market and cultural base. In February 2018, Hanes Australasia acquired Bras N Things in a transaction reported at an estimated A$500 million. The acquisition placed the retailer within the portfolio of a major apparel and underwear group, giving it access to broader sourcing, manufacturing and distribution capabilities while preserving Bras N Things as a distinct consumer-facing brand. Bras N Things is positioned as a mass-market, fashion-led lingerie retailer. Its proposition combines accessible pricing with frequent style changes, seasonal collections and a broad assortment spanning everyday foundations and more overtly fashion-oriented products. The brand's history is associated with bringing more variety and trend awareness to Australian lingerie shopping, while its later ownership under Hanes Australasia connects it to a larger regional apparel platform. The supplied reference also records a proposed 2026 acquisition of Hanesbrands Australia by Brett Blundy's BB FIT Investments from Gildan; the reference does not establish the completed status or any resulting change to Bras N Things ownership, so that development is treated as a reported transaction rather than a completed corporate fact.

Bras N Things developed from Brett Blundy's mid-1980s attempt to modernize Australian lingerie retail. After selling a controlling stake in the Jetts music-store chain in 1986, Blundy pursued an idea prompted by seeing a store manager wearing a damaged bra repaired with a safety pin. He believed the market offered too few fashionable designs and wanted to sell underwear in more varied colours, cuts and styles. He initially operated a franchise of The Bra Shop at Chirnside Park Shopping Centre in Victoria. While the store started with established branded merchandise, Blundy gradually sourced alternative lines. An early batch of 15 G-strings sold out in one day, supporting his view that customers would respond to more fashion-conscious products. A subsequent arrangement with The Bra Shop franchisor Bryan Luca reshaped the business. Blundy exchanged three Victorian stores for four underperforming Bras N Things outlets in New South Wales and accepted a temporary restriction on trading in Victoria. He then expanded Bras N Things into South Australia and Queensland, with the broader operation becoming associated with Brazin Limited. By 1990, the network had grown to approximately 60 stores around Australia. Luca later sold his remaining Victorian Bra Shop outlets to Blundy in groups of six, and those stores were ultimately renamed and integrated into Bras N Things. During the 1990s, the brand became part of a broader specialty-retail strategy. In 1999, Brazin launched Viva Lingerie to address a different customer demographic, while also acquiring nine lingerie stores from Triumph International. This created a multi-brand approach within the lingerie category, with Bras N Things occupying its own established retail position. Ownership shifted at the end of the 2000s when BBRC sold its controlling interest to ANZ and IMF Investors. In November 2013, Blundy and Ray Itaoui, the owner associated with Sanity, each purchased half of the company from those investors. Their return placed the business under the influence of two established Australian specialty-retail entrepreneurs. Bras N Things expanded beyond its home market in March 2016, opening a Johannesburg store and entering South Africa. The brand has also operated in New Zealand and the United States. In February 2018, Hanes Australasia purchased the business in a transaction reported at an estimated A$500 million. Under Hanes Australasia, Bras N Things remained a distinct lingerie retail brand within a larger apparel and underwear organization. The supplied reference additionally reports a proposed 2026 purchase of Hanesbrands Australia by BB FIT Investments from Gildan. Because the material does not confirm completion, the transaction is recorded as reported rather than as a settled ownership change.

• 2026

  Reported Hanesbrands Australia transaction

  [1]Bras N Thingsen.wikipedia.org

  The supplied reference reports an agreement for BB FIT Investments to purchase Hanesbrands Australia from Gildan; completion and implications for Bras N Things are not established.

• 2018

  Acquisition by Hanes Australasia

  [1]Bras N Thingsen.wikipedia.org

  Hanes Australasia acquired the retailer in a deal reported at an estimated A$500 million.

• 2016

  South African expansion

  [1]Bras N Thingsen.wikipedia.org

  Bras N Things opened its first South African store in Johannesburg.

• 2013

  Blundy and Itaoui become co-owners

  [1]Bras N Thingsen.wikipedia.org

  Brett Blundy and Ray Itaoui each acquired a 50 percent stake in Bras N Things.

• 2008

  Control passes to ANZ and IMF Investors

  [1]Bras N Thingsen.wikipedia.org

  BBRC sold its controlling interest in Bras N Things to ANZ and IMF Investors.

• 1999

  Viva Lingerie is created

  [1]Bras N Thingsen.wikipedia.org

  Brazin introduced Viva Lingerie as a separate concept aimed at a different demographic and acquired nine lingerie stores from Triumph International.

• 1990

  Victorian stores transition to Bras N Things

  [1]Bras N Thingsen.wikipedia.org

  After the network reached roughly 60 stores, the remaining Victorian Bra Shop outlets were progressively sold to Blundy and eventually renamed Bras N Things.

• 1986

  Blundy enters lingerie retail

  [1]Bras N Thingsen.wikipedia.org

  Brett Blundy took a franchise in The Bra Shop chain and began developing a more fashion-oriented lingerie assortment.

Mass-market, fashion-led lingerie and women's apparel retailer.

• Lingerie · 1986

  Bras and lingerie

  The core assortment consists of bras, coordinated lingerie and fashion-oriented underwear. The brand was established around offering more variety in colour, cut and styling than the conservative mainstream lingerie available in Australia during the 1980s.

• Underwear · 1986

  Briefs and G-strings

  Bras N Things has sold briefs, G-strings and other forms of women's underwear. Its early sale of G-strings was especially associated with the brand's fashion-led positioning, as the product was relatively uncommon in everyday Australian retail when the business began.

• Swimwear

  Swimwear

  Swimwear is part of the broader women's apparel assortment associated with the retailer. It extends the brand's focus on fit, coordinated separates and seasonal fashion beyond underwear.

• Sleepwear

  Sleepwear

  Sleepwear forms part of the adjacent apparel range, complementing lingerie with products intended for night-time and at-home use.

• Apparel

  Activewear and sportswear

  The supplied dossier identifies activewear and sportswear among the retailer's typical products. Specific named collections and launch dates are not established in the available material.

• 2016

  Entry into South AfricaStrategy

  Background

  Bras N Things had established an Australian base and operated in other markets including New Zealand.

  Action taken

  The retailer opened a store in Johannesburg.

  Aftermath

  South Africa became part of the brand's stated international operating footprint.

  Source

• 1999

  Creation of Viva LingerieStrategy

  Background

  Brazin sought to serve a different lingerie demographic from Bras N Things.

  Action taken

  The group created Viva Lingerie as a separate retail concept and expanded its lingerie holdings through the acquisition of nine Triumph International stores.

  Aftermath

  The move produced a multi-brand lingerie structure within the Brazin portfolio.

  Source

• 1986

  Fashion-led lingerie positioningStrategy

  Background

  Blundy perceived mainstream lingerie as overly beige, conservative and limited in cut.

  Action taken

  He developed an assortment with more colours, varied cuts and G-strings intended for everyday fashion use.

  Aftermath

  The rapid sale of an initial 15-piece G-string order supported the commercial case for the concept.

  Source

• 2026

  BB FIT Investments agrees to purchase Hanesbrands Australia[1]Bras N Thingsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The supplied reference reports that Brett Blundy's BB FIT Investments agreed to purchase Hanesbrands Australia from Gildan for A$700 million. The reference does not establish whether the transaction was completed or its effect on Bras N Things.

• 2018

  Hanes Australasia acquires Bras N Things[1]Bras N Thingsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Hanes Australasia acquired Bras N Things in February 2018 in a transaction reported at an estimated A$500 million.

• 2016

  Bras N Things enters South Africa[1]Bras N Thingsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The retailer began South African operations with a store in Johannesburg.

• 2013

  Brett Blundy and Ray Itaoui acquire Bras N Things[1]Bras N Thingsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Leadership change

  Blundy and Sanity owner Ray Itaoui each acquired a 50 percent interest in Bras N Things from ANZ and IMF Investors.

• 2008

  BBRC sells controlling interest in Bras N Things[1]Bras N Thingsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  By the end of 2008, BBRC had sold its controlling interest in the retailer to ANZ and IMF Investors.

• 1999

  Brazin develops Viva Lingerie as a separate concept[1]Bras N Thingsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Brazin created Viva Lingerie to serve a different lingerie customer segment from Bras N Things and also acquired nine lingerie stores from Triumph International.

1. 1Bras N Thingsen.wikipedia.org