Intimate apparel retail has specific challenges around product data and customer experience that affect migration decisions. Bra sizing involves two-dimensional variants (band × cup) that can quickly exceed Shopify's 100-variant limit. Hosiery requires denier and leg length metafields. And returns handling for intimate apparel operates under different hygiene rules than clothing — which must be communicated clearly in product descriptions and policies.

Lingerie and intimate apparel product categories

Bras: T-shirt, balconette, plunge, sports, nursing, strapless. Band × cup size variants. Wire-free and underwired versions.
Underwear and briefs: Briefs, hipsters, thongs, boyshorts, high-waist. Size variants (XS–4XL or 6–22). Colour variants.
Hosiery: Tights, stockings, hold-ups, socks, knee-highs. Denier, size, and colour variants.
Shapewear: Control briefs, bodysuits, waist cinchers. Size and shaping level variants.
Nightwear and loungewear: Pyjamas, robes, chemises. Style and size variants. Less sensitive returns rules than core intimate apparel.
Swimwear: Bikinis (top + bottom sold separately or as sets). Cup size and brief size variants.
Maternity and nursing: Maternity bras, nursing bras, supportive shapewear. Cup and band plus trimester sizing guidance.

Bra sizing — the 100-variant challenge

A standard bra range covers band sizes 28–46 (10 bands in even numbers) × cup sizes AA–K (12 cup sizes) = up to 120 combinations per style — over Shopify's 100-variant limit. In practice, most bra styles cover a narrower range (e.g., 30–40 bands × A–F cups = 36 combinations), but full-bust specialists will hit the limit.

Strategies for bra sizing in Shopify:

Within limit: Standard ranges (30–42 × A–F = 42 variants). No splitting needed. Band is Option 1, cup is Option 2.
Split by band range: "T-shirt Bra — Small Bands (28–36)" and "T-shirt Bra — Large Bands (38–46)". Customers know their band — this split is intuitive.
Split by cup range: "T-shirt Bra — Standard (A–D)" and "T-shirt Bra — Full Bust (D–K)". The full-bust split also serves as a specialist product for full-bust SEO.

In WooCommerce, bra sizing is typically stored as a two-dimensional attribute (pa_band × pa_cup or a combined pa_size like "32C / 34D"). k-sync preserves both patterns — combined size values map to a single Size option in Shopify, two-attribute combinations map to two option axes.

Hosiery metafields

Metafield	Example	Product type
hosiery.denier	7 / 15 / 30 / 40 / 70 / 100	Tights, stockings
hosiery.opacity	Sheer / Semi-sheer / Opaque	Tights, stockings
hosiery.waistband_type	Comfort / Standard / High waist / Control top	Tights
hosiery.toe_type	Open toe / Closed toe / Reinforced toe	Tights, stockings
hosiery.leg_length	Short / Medium / Long / Tall	Tights, hold-ups
hosiery.compression_mmhg	8-15 / 15-20 / 20-30	Compression hosiery
lingerie.fabric_composition	90% polyamide 10% elastane / 100% cotton	All
lingerie.care	Hand wash / Machine 30 / Dry clean only	All
lingerie.sustainable_material	ECONYL / Organic cotton / Tencel / Recycled lace	Eco lines
lingerie.wireless	true / false	Bras
lingerie.padding	Unpadded / Lightly padded / Push-up / Moulded	Bras
lingerie.support_level	Light / Medium / High	Sports bras, shapewear

Returns policy for intimate apparel

Under UK consumer law (Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013), customers can return most online purchases within 14 days. However, intimate apparel (bras, underwear, swimwear) is exempt from the right to return if the hygiene seal has been broken or removed.

This must be clearly communicated:

A dedicated returns policy page explaining intimate apparel-specific exemptions
A note on all intimate apparel product pages: "Due to hygiene regulations, this product cannot be returned once the hygiene seal has been removed."
A metafield lingerie.hygiene_seal_required = true to trigger this notice automatically on affected product pages

During migration, products that were not returnable in WooCommerce should have this flag set. Some WooCommerce stores store this as a custom field — k-sync preserves this data in the normalized product's metafields.

Size-inclusive and extended sizing

Size inclusivity (extending to larger band and cup sizes, and larger underwear sizes up to 6XL or size 30+) is a significant differentiator in the lingerie market. In Shopify:

Ensure extended size SKUs are included in the migration — sometimes larger sizes were added to WooCommerce as separate products or as less-visible variants
Create a "Size Inclusive" collection with all products available above size 18 / 40D+
Tag extended sizes with size-inclusive for filtered collection membership

Swimwear — separate top and bottom sizing

Many swimwear brands allow customers to mix and match bikini tops and bottoms in different sizes. In Shopify:

Top and bottom sold as separate products, each with their own size variant
A "Complete the set" metafield linking coordinating pieces: lingerie.matching_set_handle = "rose-bikini-brief"
A "Matching sets" collection or "Build your bikini" page

Post-migration checklist for lingerie and intimate apparel stores

Bra band and cup sizes as separate option axes (not combined "32C" strings)
Products near variant limit (80+) reviewed for splitting strategy
Denier metafield on all hosiery products
Opacity (sheer/opaque) metafield on tights and stockings
Padding and wire status metafields on all bras
Fabric composition and care instructions in metafields
Hygiene seal / non-returnable notice on all intimate apparel
Extended sizing variants confirmed present for all size-inclusive products
Swimwear top/bottom sold separately with matching set cross-links
Sustainable material certification stored where applicable

Migrating a lingerie, underwear, and hosiery store from WooCommerce to Shopify (2026)