Purpose　The　breasts　are　mainly　fatty　and　connective　tissues　with　no　muscles　that　directly　support　them,　so　wearing　sports　bras　is　one　of　the　most　effective　means　of　alleviating　the　discomfort　of　breast　movement　and　potential　injury　during　vigorous　physical　exercise.　However,　the　design　and　development　processes　of　traditional　sports　bras　are　time-consuming　and　costly.　Hence,　a　novel　method　of　simulating　the　static　contact　pressure　between　a　sports　bra　and　women＇s　body　based　on　the　finite　element　(FE)　and　artificial　neural　network　(ANN)　models　is　developed　in　this　study　to　contribute　to　the　design　considerations　of　sports　bras.　Design/methodology/approach　Three-dimensional　FE　models　of　a　female　subject　and　sports　bras　with　different　fabric　properties　are　developed　to　determine　the　amount　of　contact　pressure　exerted　onto　the　body.　The　FE　results　are　then　verified　by　measuring　the　amount　of　pressure　exerted　by　the　sports　bra　on　the　skin　with　pressure　sensors.　The　Taguchi　technique　is　used　to　effectively　reduce　the　number　of　trials　from　625　to　only　25　cases.　These　25　results　obtained　through　FE　modelling　are　then　used　to　provide　the　training　set　for　the　ANNs.　Finally,　a　comparison　between　the　FE　and　ANN　results　is　carried　out.　Findings　A　novel　model　of　the　static　contact　pressure　between　a　sports　bra　and　human　subject　based　on　the　FE　and　ANN　methods　is　presented　in　this　paper.　The　root　mean　square　error　values　show　that　there　is　only　a　small　difference　between　the　FE　and　ANN　results.　Originality/value　The　ANN　function　established　in　this　study　can　be　used　to　predict　the　mechanical　behaviours　of　breasts　and　has　a　fundamental　impact　on　the　computer-aided　design　of　functional　garments　in　general.