The Bra Turns 100
Born to end many of the torments caused by the uncomfortable corsets of the time, the bra celebrates its centenary in 2007. It's difficult to pinpoint an exact date of its invention. In the late 19th century, the first, primitive versions of the bra were made. In 1907, the year that marks the centenary, Vogue magazine (yes, it already existed back then) used the term "brassière" for the first time to refer to these devices (this word is the origin of "bra" in English and is what we translate as "sujetador" here). However, the first bra patent wasn't filed until 1914 in the USA, where Maria Phelps registered her solution to her corset problems. Maria sold her patent to the Warner Brothers Corset Company for $1,500, and in just two years, this company made $15 million in profit thanks to the bra.
Despite its obvious advantages, the bra's penetration wasn't very high until the 1930s, when curves started to be in fashion. Until then, the corset still enjoyed wide acceptance even though it significantly hindered breathing. The sacrifice seemed acceptable in exchange for enjoying a somewhat androgynous appearance. In 1931, Warner expanded its range of bras by creating different cup sizes (from A to D) and using elastic bands for the first time (a fateful date for all those who have received a "snap" on the back from someone mischievously pulling the bra strap). In the late 1930s, nylon was discovered, becoming one of the most used materials for its manufacture, alongside other already common materials like silk.
In the 1950s, the first "inflatable" bras appeared, intended to allow girls with smaller busts to sport a more striking figure. Shortly after, in the 1960s, surgeries arrived to satisfy the desires of those who not only wanted to show off but also genuinely increase their bust size. Just at the end of this decade, in 1968, the bra became a political symbol of the oppression suffered by women in various feminist demonstrations. In these demonstrations, women carried bras that ended up being burned as a sign of protest (this is the myth that has survived, although it seems that what really happened was that the bras were thrown into the trash).
Since then until today, there haven't been significant variations in the bra, but it's undeniable that they have become the quintessential lingerie garment. To conclude with one more curious fact, it's estimated that 80% of women don't wear their ideal bra size. Much has changed since the bra was invented, but it seems there's still more to learn ;)