Ever felt like your bra is the bane of your existence? Yeah, we’ve been there too. And believe it or not, so have women throughout history! We can’t commiserate with our ancestors about it, so we’ve put together the next best thing—five fun facts about where bras came from and how they’ve changed over the years!
The earliest bra is believed to be from the 14th century
While it’s difficult to determine true firsts throughout the course of history, archaeologists and historians believe that the earliest evidence of physical bras is from the 14th century. They were discovered in Austria and looked similar to today’s bras, made of linen and lace.
Before cupped bras, corsets were the height of fashion
While bras that look like today’s have been discovered as far back as the 14th century, many didn’t take to them at first. In fact, most women moved towards corsets, which were used to shape the breasts, waist, and hips. If you’ve seen Gone With the Wind or even Pirates of the Caribbean, then you’re probably familiar with corsets and the often extreme lengths necessary to make them look good. All we have to say is that no matter how uncomfortable modern bras might be…we’re just glad corsets aren’t all the rage anymore!
Bras with separate cups were introduced in the late 1700s
Around 1790, gowns with high waists that drew eyes to the breasts were becoming more popular. Corsets changed to accommodate the new style, often including two separate cups for the breasts. With that drastic change, history took another huge step towards modern-day bras!
Bras weren’t considered an essential undergarment until 1917
Did you know that bras weren’t considered a necessity until 1917? Just over 100 years ago, it became commonplace for all women to wear bras. This was around the same time doctors started debating whether corsets were safe. Almost all corsets were inconvenient, but some even caused injuries! It wasn’t uncommon for a woman to faint or for the rib cage to become deformed. Despite improvements over time, bras today are still often painful with underwire that digs into your skin.
That’s where we come in! At SheBird, we’re all about freeing women from their uncomfortable bras.
SheBird has created the most comfortable and supportive built-in bra around
Today’s bras come in all shapes and sizes. So why does finding the perfect one feel so impossible? Bras have a long history—it’s time women had the best option available to them!
At SheBird, we’ve revolutionized bras. Each of our tops and dresses comes with our signature SheLove built-in bra, perfectly designed for both support and comfort. Our built-in bras shape and smooth without the need for underwires, providing all day comfort. There’s no hardware or separate straps to worry about. Our built-in bras are designed with bonded seams that offer a sleek, smooth, comfortable fit and the curved construction of each built-in bra shapes, lifts, and separates your bust. Plus, the mesh center panel keeps you cool no matter the weather! Removable cups provide modesty and shaping. There’s also a back smoothing panel that eliminates bra band bulges and keeps the fabric from digging into your skin—no more uncomfortable long days of wearing bras that hurt!
And that’s not even everything. Moisture-wicking fabric keeps you cool all day long and the stretchy fabric moves with you, supporting comfortably no matter what you’re doing. For our larger sizes (7-9), each built-in bra has an extra layer of fabric strength to offer you better support and comfort. No matter your shape or size, we have the perfect built-in bra solution for you! We believe in making clothing with built-in bras that fit real women, which is why we also offer half-sizes.
SheBird built-in bras are what women have been waiting for. Get ready to Fly Free with Shebird and say goodbye to your bra!
Ready to start shopping? Let’s go!
