History of the Sports Bra
The history of the sports bra is a tale of women supporting women and has been shaped by the cultural, societal and historical changes of the past century.
Historically, the bra has been inextricably linked with the social status of women and views on the female body. The 16th Century corset is a classic example. It reflected the submissive role of women of this time and remained a foundation of the woman’s wardrobe until the 1800s.
The onset of the world wars (where women largely entered the workforce) and the Women’s Rights Movement in the 1900s saw the corset evolve into what became known as the ‘underwire bra’. The role of women in society continued to shift and in 1977 the ‘sports bra’ was born.
Graduate Student Lisa Lindahl invented the first sports bra (known as the ‘Jockbra’ and rebranded as the ‘Jogbra’) at the height of the women’s liberation movement (WLM) and the first ‘jogging craze’. Lindahl identified a gap in the market and a need for a bra that she could run in. Her aim was to create a bra that minimized breast movement and alleviated discomfort so that women could more readily participate in similar activities.
Since Lindahl’s discovery, the sports bra was further advanced by other forward-thinking females. In the mid-1980’s, Renelle Braaten built on the “Jockbra” by developing more supportive sports bras for well-endowed women. Her design included less stretchy fabrics and a full coverage back panel to support the weight up front. Her ‘Enell Bra’ - the first encapsulation bra - hit the market in 1993.
“As the modern woman has evolved over the last one hundred years, the metamorphosis of the bra is a reflection of that transformation”
Other women have tested and progressed the sports bra and qualified for design patents. Soon major brands jumped on board and increased their commitment to building great sports bras for women by improving the design and comfort of this garment.
Today sports bras have grown into a billion-dollar industry. In recent times there has been a shift towards developing a multipurpose bra that feels good, and women can wear all day. Today there are more opportunities to work remotely or from home and there is greater emphasis on general health and wellbeing. Wearing a comfortable bra that provides adaptability during the day is an ever-growing market.
The sports bra was an important innovation which empowered women to participate comfortably in work, sports and activity and continues to evolve with the times. Keep in mind the history of the sports bra when you’re next wearing your ShyAktive bra!
Sources
“We’re in the Middle of a Sports Bra Revolution”, Outside, Petra Zeiler, 5 March 2020
https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/clothing-apparel/sports-bra-design-revolution/
“A Brief History of the Sports Bra”, Runner’s World, Kelly Bastone, 30 Aug 2017
https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a20860634/a-brief-history-of-the-sports-bra/
“The first sports bra was two jockstraps sewn together”, Molly Shay, New York Post, 14 August 2017
https://nypost.com/2017/08/14/the-first-sports-bra-was-two-jockstraps-sewn-together/