Women Who Have Revolutionized The Lingerie Industry

On #ShopNTL, we’re all about empowering other women, whether it’s through providing them lingerie that makes them feel confident, educating them on lingerie, or just sharing positive stories and celebrating them. Women have done a lot to boost the lingerie industry from a variety of standpoints. We want to take a moment to commemorate women who have revolutionized the lingerie industry, and those who are continuing to make changes that are having a positive impact on the industry.

Mary Phelps Jacobs – Inventor of the Modern Bra

Mary Phelps Jacobs via Women Now

We wouldn’t have the bras we do today if it weren’t for Mary Phelps Jacobs. She got her maid to sew together two handkerchiefs along with some ribbon and a cord to create what she called a “brassiere.” In the early 1900s, she patented her design. Warner Brothers Corset Company later bought her patent, and the bra just continued to evolve from there. It’s said that she created this bra because she wasn’t a fan of corsets and their constricting nature, and soon after she did so, she got a lot of requests to make them for others, so she did the smart thing and patented it. The rest is history!

Lisa Lindahl, Victoria Woodrow, and Hindra Schreiber– Inventors of Sports Bras

Lisa Lindahl and Victoria Woodward via American History

In the 1970’s, two runners, Lisa Lindahl and Victoria Woodrow, were complaining to each otherabout how it was so difficult to run without a bra with proper support. They realized among their community that many women were suffering due to this, and so they did something about! The original sports bra was actually two jock straps sewn together with the help of assistant Hindra Screiber, and was called a Jockbra. Later called the Jogbra, Playtex bought the ladies out and continued to innovate the design. Now, sports bras are common among female athletes and women in general, as they have become more supportive, comfortable, and fashionable.

Dita Von Teese- Lingerie Enthusiast

Dita Von Teese via Nino Fashion

Dita Von Teese started out a young girl fascinated by lingerie, working her way up the ladder at a lingerie boutique to the absolute burlesque powerhouse that she is. She brought burlesque, vintage fashion, and corsetry back into the mainstream, and has inspired women of all shapes and sizes to embrace themselves with gorgeous lingerie. She can also be credited with inspiring women to explore corsets, garters, outfits, and luxury lingerie that many women often won’t treat themselves to.

Ashley Graham – Model

Ashley Graham via Sports Illustrated

Ashley Graham wasn’t the first plus size lingerie model, and definitely won’t be the last, but she has been one of the most prominent voices of body positivity for the current generation. She’s made history by posing for Sports Illustrated, has created business, and has been graceful under fire from many directions. She has created this new wave of body positivity and honestly that many other models and industry professionals are jumping on.

Are there any powerful women in lingerie that you can think of that should be on this list too? Let us know in the comments below! You can also chat with us on Facebook and Twitter and follow us on both! Follow us on Pinterest as well for all things lingerie and so much more, and learn from us on YouTube.