I sew, so I know that tailored clothes such as a suit require way more work than a dress. In the same way, supportive bras would require better materials and better construction than a relatively flimsy one for the smaller sizes.

Dammit, I thought for a split second you were going to link to a place where I could buy some. Harumph.

Yes yes yes! I just bought this Elle McPherson that is AWESOME though. But not cheap. I bought it because it was cute, but now I wear it constantly because it's comfy. (I'm a 38D.)

I've wondered about this myself and I've had this discussion several years ago with the lady who owns (and runs) Milan's most exclusive lingerie store. To boil it down quite crudely to a few bullet points,

* Cheap always means at least one of these two things, possibly both: not too durable and/or uncomfortable. It's about the materials, and the stitching. Machines and quality control are expensive, esp quality control. That's why cheap is never very good.

* Wires are tricky: design of bras gets much more complicated, ie expensive; uncomfy wires kill

* An off-the-rack bra will never be perfect anyway -- unless your breasts are EXACTLY the same size and weight and shape up to infinitesimal measurements. Maybe your bra is well-made, but your breasts are simply not the same size (or half-size). Or your posture is wrong.

* The larger the size, the more support you need from the cup -- because the more support ends up relying on the shoulder straps, the more uncomforatble the bra

* Made to measure is the most expensive; it's also the most comfortable and durable.

* It's not entirely true that most women think they have a bra size when in fact their size is different -- fact is, sizes change from brand to brand, sometimes from make to make of the same brand

* Good reliable stitching is a bitch. If you want to make perfectly-stitched bras, it'll cost more. Hence, your customers will pay more

* It's a good business, you might as well make money off of it.

so, to answer the question, "Inexpensive bras (under $20) that look awesome for women whose breast sizes are 36C and above" can indeed look awesome, I guess, but they'll fit like crap, they'll be badly stitched and will drill a hole through your poitrine in a couple hours.

I'm willing to pay quite a bit for my boulder-holders provided they are 1/ supportive, 2/ comfortable, and 3/ pretty! But I have the damndest time finding a bra for cup-sizes DD and above that allows for cleavage - not every woman with huge boobs wants to lift and separate!

Let me also take a moment to urge all of the ladies to get their ladies measured on a yearly basis - sizes do change, you are probably not the size you think you are, and a well-fitted bra is like heaven. Heaven, I say!

It's not entirely true that most women think they have a bra size when in fact their size is different -- fact is, sizes change from brand to brand, sometimes from make to make of the same brand

So. Freaking. True.
I went to Torrid a while back and saw they had strapless bras in DDD sizes. Joy. Grabbed one, found it fit, did a dance of joy as I have a strapless bridesmaid's dress in my near future. At the register the gal told me all bras were buy-one-get-one.
Grabbed a different style (also in store brand), same size. Didn't bother to try on since they were about to close and, hey, same brand, same size, why wouldn't it fit?
Got home, only to find it was easily closer to how a G in most lines would fit on me. (and they don't carry above DDD, so it wasn't mistagged).

Also, rhapsodie, Lane Bryant's plunge bra is available up to either an F or G, and it provides the Cleavage of Doom you seek, with those removable air bubble dealies.. (funny story about those... while we were making celebrating a particularly impressive Sabres win, a friend of mine demonstrated she could hold a test-tube shooter in her chest. I said "oh yeah?" and proceeded to do the same. With a beer bottle. Thanks, Lane Bryant!) Seriously, I had one when I was heavier, at a 40F, and I went out and got more when I went down to a 36DDD. We're talking push 'em up, shove 'em together, watch jaws drop time. I don't know how small their band sizes go, though, so if you're rather slim they may not be an option. 36, maybe 34, could be as small as they go, band-wise.

Goddamn! So many big-breastacled metachatters. I had no idea y'all had such big boobies. These things you speak of have never ever ever been an issue for me. Myself, I'm a member of the itty-bitty-titty-committee. Bras?! Who needs'em?

Oh my, kelly, I never thought to check Layne Bryant: those plunges are awesome! They don't even have those horrible boob seams that the one I just bought has. But sadly, Layne Bryant doesn't carry them in my size: I'm a 34F/32G. I'm going to go cry now.

But I have the damndest time finding a bra for cup-sizes DD and above that allows for cleavage - not every woman with huge boobs wants to lift and separate!

No shit. If I've got to carry these things around, I should at least be able to sport some serious cleavage. Is that so much to ask? I've resigned myself to never finding inexpensive yet pretty bras in my size (for the reasons matteo mentioned), but fer chrissakes, I'd like to be able to, um, show them to their advantage once in a while.

You and me rhapsodie, I waver between a 32DDD and a 34DD depending on what time of the month it is. Which reminds me, I should get refitted. Any bunnies know how much a custom bra would cost? I've no idea.

I actually just found a seamless underwire made by Playtex at Target for about $15.00. Count me in as another "blessed" ladybun here. It's a 40 DD and it fits great and comfortably and I'm going back for more colors. It can be done!

This thread is useless without ...

Ow! Who hit me?

The president of Boob Island, dg.

My ex-roommate and I used to joke that between the two of us (she was 34DDD, I am flat but..um..perky, with weird spacing) we could break the entire low-end bra industry.

An off-the-rack bra

That's the best kind of bra! *runs off in fear of his life*

Oh yeah, that Lane Bryant plunge bra is awesome. I get kind of scared of myself when I wear it.

fact is, sizes change from brand to brand, sometimes from make to make of the same brand

Why is this so??? Why do we women continue to let this happen???

Men's pants are relatively simple to buy. Waist size/Inseam. That's it. And yet when I go out to buy pants, I'm treated to having to try on everything from 12 to 16, and if the waist fits, they're too long. Or if they're the right length, my thighs and ass are too fat.

I will never forget the day that I bought two pairs of size 12 Short Levi Jeans. Same size, same style of jean, different color. I figured that since they were the same style, size and manufacturer, I'd be safe so I only tried on one of them at the store and then thought that when I got back to NYC from California, I'd be fine.

Yeah, right. I ended up carrying the second, non-fitting pair around for TWO YEARS with the tags still on because I lost the receipt and couldn't reasonably get to the same store out here to exchange them or return them.

Okay, so maybe cute bras for bigger women at under $15 might not be feasible due to matteo's comments. But what about under $25? Or let's say $30?

Someone's got to be able to come up with the technology somehow. Design a new durable stitch that can be coded into computer-controlled sewing machines? Working with recycled plastic products to develop a hard polymer that can take the place of an underwire?