When Were Bras Invented?

Ancient Beginnings: The Pre-Bra Era

Women in ancient Greece (as far back as the 4th century BCE) used a garment called the “apodesmos” or “mastodeton” — basically, a band of fabric wrapped around the chest for support. Roman women had similar undergarments.

But these early “bras” were mostly functional and lacked the shaping, lifting, or style that we associate with modern versions.

The Corset Reign: 1500s – 1800s

Fast-forward to Europe’s Renaissance and Victorian periods, and we enter the age of the corset — a tightly laced, boned structure designed to cinch the waist and push the bust up.

Corsets dominated women\’s fashion for over 400 years. They were effective at shaping the figure, but far from comfortable — often causing restricted breathing and even health issues. By the late 1800s, women began looking for alternatives that offered support without suffocation.

The Birth of the Modern Bra: 1914

The first modern bra, as we know it today, was patented in 1914 by Mary Phelps Jacob, a young New York socialite.

Tired of her corset showing under a sheer evening gown, she sewed together two handkerchiefs and some ribbon — creating a lightweight, backless undergarment that allowed her more freedom of movement. She patented her invention as the \”brassiere.\”

Comfort & Choice: 1980s to Today

From the rise of the sports bra in 1977 to the explosion of bralettes, seamless bras, and inclusive sizing in recent years, the modern bra industry has become all about comfort, function, and personal choice.

What began as a homemade fix by Mary Phelps Jacob has now become a multi-billion-dollar industry — shaped by fashion and function alike.