The bra as we know it today is a hundred years old. It has come a long way from two silk handkerchiefs and a ribbon to a carefully engineered shaping device.
2007 is the centenary year of the bra as we know it today. The ancient Chinese, Persians and Greeks developed an apparatus designed to lift and hold the bust that was more like a system of webbing, but it wasn't until 1907 that Vogue Magazine first published the first item on the modern bra as we know it today. Prior to this the bra was part of the corset and didn't exist as a separate item of lingerie.
In 1907 Mary Phelps Jacob, a New York socialite, bought herself a new, sheer fabric, evening dress. The existing undergarments of the time showed beneath this flimsy dress and caused her a problem, so she set to work with her maid and they designed their own bra. The makeshift item was fashioned from two silk handkerchiefs, ribbon and cord.
Before Mary and her maid knew what was happening, everybody wanted one of these new, comfortable undergarments.
In 1914 a US patent was granted for the "backless bra". This style of bra was more of a flattener than a supporting device and the invention became popular during the 1920's flapper era.
Bras had been commercially produced during the 1860's were unsuccessful because they were cumbersome and uncomfortable and came into he "corset" category.
By the mid 1920's new designs made this item more comfortable to wear and provided lift and support for the figure but it was not until the 1930's that this industry really moved forward. Prior to this the word "bra" was little used. The term has been "brassiere", or "corset". 1930's women had more freedom and a choice of fabrics, colours and sizes.
More structured, shaped bras began to appear during the 1940's and 50's, but it wasn't until the 1960's that there was a wide range of fabrics, styles and sizes at affordable prices.
From 1970 onwards there has been a huge change in this market. There were many styles of bra available in silk, nylon, polyester, cotton and a myriad of other fabrics. These became available in a whole range of back and cup sizes in any colour of the rainbow you could possibly imagine.
In the year 2001 the bra industry in US was worth a cool 15 billion dollars with manufacturers Berlei and Gossard taking the largest share. Designs have come a long way from those two silk handkerchiefs of 1907.
Great article, Louie, and I think we're missing the video..
#2 by louie jerome, Jan 19, 2008
Thanks Icy, I am waiting for it to be 'fixed'.
#3 by Alexa Gates, Jan 19, 2008
I didn't know that the bra took that long to get popular...
#4 by Joe Poniatowski, Jan 19, 2008
More info than I thought I\'d ever want to know about this subject, but you kept it interesting.
#5 by Judy Sheldon-Walker, Jan 19, 2008
All that work, and they actually went through a bra burning era. lol. I am grateful to have found one that is comfortable. Thanks for interesting article.
#6 by Lucy Lockett, Jan 19, 2008
I enjoyed reading that as well as being a girl and wearing pretty under garments.
#7 by Dee Huff, Jan 19, 2008
I've learnt something new. I always thought that modern bras were created by and for the Hollywood Film Industry, but I think I've just got some story stuck in my mind.
#8 by Anne Lyken-Garner, Jan 20, 2008
Louie, I collected information about the history of the bra in order to publish here, but got side tracked with other things. But you've done it so well, I suppose I can't do mine now. Boo hoo hoo...
