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, which reflected the submissive role of women of this time and remained a foundation of the woman’s wardrobe until the 1800s. The corset’s design then evolved into what became known as the ‘underwire bra’. This coincided with the onset of the world wars where women entered the workforce and Women’s Rights Movement in the 1900s. Following this came the “sports bra” - a more modern day invention which continued to reflect the shifting role of women in society.

The first “sports bra”, deemed the “Jockbra”, was invented in 1977 by Graduate Student Lisa Lindahl 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 herself could run in. Her aim was to create a bra that minimized breast movement and alleviated discomfort so that all women could more readily participate in similar activities.  

“As the modern woman has evolved over the last one hundred years, the metamorphosis of the bra is a reflection of that transformation”

Since Lindahl’s unique discovery, the sports bra was further advanced by other forward-thinking females. In the mid-1980’s, Renelle Braaten developed the “jockbra” into a more supportive bra that would stabilise larger sized breasts. Her design included less stretchy fabrics and a full coverage back panel to support the weight up front. Her ‘Enell Bra’ hit the market in 1992. Other women have tested and progressed the sports bra and qualified for design patents.  Eventually 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. While larger brands have always turned to science, research and data to inform design, smaller female-founded brands continue to rely on instincts.

Sports bras have grown into a billion dollar industry. In recent times against the backdrop of the Covid-19 Pandemic, there has been a shift towards developing a bra based on ‘feel’ and a bra that 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 woman to participate comfortably in work, sports and activity. This garment came with a revolution in both women’s sport and women’s societal status and continues to evolve with the times.

Keep in mind the history of the sports bra when you’re next wearing your shyAktive bra! 

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