For several centuries of its existence, the bra from a purely practical in the past detail of a woman's closet has become a fashionable and self-sufficient thing, which now does not need to be hidden under layers of clothes. In addition, many brands are in favor of body positivity, as a result of which the size range is expanding, and designers take into account the anatomical features of each woman. We delved into the history and learned how bras became an important part of every woman's closet.

Although the bra may seem like a relatively new invention, the first records of its existence or versions of it date back to ancient India. The first mention of the bra dates back to literature from the reign of King Harsh (from 606 to 647 BC). During the Ming Dynasty in China, from the 14th to 17th century, women wore loose silk bodices tied at the neck and waist. Some of the earliest evidence of bras can even be found in rock paintings, including a Roman mosaic in the Villa Dell'Casale in Sicily, which dates from the 4th century AD, and in Crete from the 1300s onwards, which depict women wearing bandeaus.

In the early 16th century the corset appeared, forever changing the appearance of women and in some places even their anatomy. In 1869 a real revolution took place in France when Hermine Cadol showed the first bra, which she created from a corset by cutting it into two parts. As early as 1893, French feminist Maria Toucek received a patent for the first bra model. The model contained pockets on each breast, metal plates and was equipped with shoulder straps to provide support for the breasts.

The Vogue publication first used the word "bra" in 1907, and it quickly became a household word. The Oxford Dictionary introduced the term in 1911.

One would think that corsets were abandoned because of the diseases they caused, but World War I was to blame. Once women started working in factories and large businesses, it became uncomfortable to wear corsets. Instead of long Victorian skirts, women wore more practical pantaloons, and instead of corsets, comfortable bras.

By the 1930s, most lingerie designers had already realized that a proper fit was important - that's when the first models with different cup sizes and shades were introduced. The invention of nylon in 1940 revolutionized the garment industry, and women were obsessed with finding lingerie made from the new synthetic material.

Around the middle of the XX century, bras began to turn into self-sufficient units of the closet. On the underwear of different colors more and more often began to appear catchy prints. Brands also experimented with materials, decorating bras with decorative elements and applications. In 1977, two friends - Lisa Lindahl and Polly Smith - joined two straps at the back and called the model Jogbra. This is how the first sports bras appeared. And almost immediately became very popular - and not only because of the comfort. Interest in them was fueled by the sexual revolution of this period, when women marched in defense of their rights. However, at the actions, women defiantly removed underwear, thus showing their independence from the canons of beauty, demanding freedom in all senses. including from uncomfortable bra.

The lingerie market continued to develop in the 2000s, starting with the creation of the Fantasy Bra from Victoria's Secret and ending with models that maximize comfort for the breasts and body as a whole. Today, a bra complements any outfit, and there are tons of varieties. The most popular models are bralets and almost weightless and invisible under clothes bra made of high-quality fabrics.