A Brief History Of Bra

Covering a woman's breast has always been a staple practice even before the patent for the bra that we know today was invented. This goes back as far as the 14th century when Minoan athletes covered their chests with a linen cloth that would resemble the modern-day bandeau.

It is apparent that support for women’s breasts has always been a necessity even before renowned artists and designers stepped up on the challenge of commercializing this undergarment.

In this circumstance, the corset has become a household name for most women in the 16th Century when the fascination for the perfect figure was all over France. It gave women the voluptuous bosom as the corset pushed it upward while giving them the desirable waist. The stiffness of the corset can be attributed to their materials as it was made out of a piece of wood or whalebone that was sewn into the casing.

The corset has dominated women for over four centuries until the girdles came to life during the Edwardian Era which gave the remarkable "S" figure.

In 1869, the classic corset was renovated when Herminie Cadolle split it in half. The upper half was supported with straps while the lower part accentuated the waist. These were then mass-produced in 1905.

Soon enough, the fashion world decided to take a glimpse of the "brassiere" as Vogue used the world for the first time and was later on added to the Oxford Dictionary in 1911.

Then came the flattened look in the 1920s which changed a decade later with the innovation of cup sizes that allowed women to celebrate their natural bodies.  Moreover, a pointy appearance that got the named 'bullet-shaped' bra stayed trendy from the 40s up to the 50s that was even more popularized by the iconic Marilyn Monroe.

The rest of the world decided to catch up with the creation of options that are now readily available today such as the pushup bra, lacey bras with animal prints, and sports bra. It didn't take long for exclusive lingerie-shops to pop up due to its high demand.

Nowadays, women’s perception of what a good bra is has definitely changed. It was no longer a game on which ones provided support and which looked visually pleasing - it was more than that. There are now a lot of brands that aim to incorporate various advocacies with how they market their product through their campaigns.

This list includes body positivity, inclusivity, and a celebration of diversity among others which are now being the key message that brands bring. It also helps move the brands forward as social media and the advancement of technology has made it easier to broadcast for free.

One of the emerging brands in the industry is Billebon which offers bras and lingerie items that aim to accommodate every woman's preference may she opt for the traditional and classic nightwear or if she chooses a bra that exposes as much skin as she would want in a subtle way possible.