Mary Phelps Jacob, Inventor of the Bra Design.

 

In 1913, the first modern brassiere to be awarded a patented was invented by a New York socialite named Mary Phelps Jacob. Mary had just purchased a sheer evening gown for one of her social events. At that time, the accepted undergarments were corsets, stiffened with whaleback bones and steel rods. Mary found that the "whalebone-spocked" out visibly around the plunging neckline and under the sheer fabric, so with two silk hankerchiefs and some pink ribbon, the first bra was invented. Mary's new undergarment went well with the new fashions being introduced at the time and demands from friends and family were high for the new brassiere. On November 3, 1914, she was awarded a patent for the "Backless Brassiere". Caresse Crosby was the business name Jacob used for her brassiere production. However, Jacob did not enjoy the business, so she sold the brassiere patent to the Warner Brothers Corset Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut for $1,500. The Warner Brothers Corset Company made $15 million dollars from the bra over the next 30 years. The undergarment name "brassier" was derived from the old French word for "upper arm". Her patent was for a device that was lightweight, soft and separated the breasts naturally. The following describes the bra's evolution:

Mary Phelps Jacob After decades of stuffing themselves into seemingly barbaric undergarments of a mostly corset-like nature, women around the world finally began to get fed up. In 1913, a New York socialite decided to do something about it: the first modern brassiere was created by Mary Phelps Jacob. She patented her design, and now the brassiere is a standard part of nearly every modern woman's wardrobe.

Jacob came up with the idea for her brassiere after she bought an evening gown for an event she was planning to attend. At the time, women wore corsets stiffened with whaleback bones and steel rods. She tried on the dress with one of these corsets, however, and found that the whalebones poked out visibly around the plunging neckline and under the sheer fabric. Jacob had a better idea. She took two silk handkerchiefs and some pink ribbon, and fashioned herself, with the help of her maid, the very first bra. Family and friends almost immediately asked Jacob to create brassieres for them, too. One day, she received a request for one of her contraptions from a stranger, who had offered a dollar for her efforts. She knew then that this could become a viable business. On November 3, 1914, she was awarded a patent for the "Backless Brassiere". The undergarment name "brassiere" was derived from the old French word for "upper arm". Then, Jacob set up a business, using the name Caresse Crosby instead of her own. Later she sold the brassiere patent to the Warner Brothers Corset Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut for $1,500. The Warner Brothers Corset Company made $15 million dollars from the bra over the next 30 years.

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