The long evolution of the bra: Who invented it and why?

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BY MAIA MULKO

Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons

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The brassiere or bra is a feminine undergarment that serves to cover, support, or change the appearance of the breasts.

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There are many people and cultures involved in bra history.

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The most ancient bras that we know of are depicted in certain pieces of art from the Minoan civilization in the 14th Century BC.

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In Greece, in the 5th and 4th centuries BC, women often wore bands that went over the clothing, giving some support while also lifting and separating.

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Then, we have Roman bras or “mamillare” — pieces of cloth that women wrapped tightly around their chests to cover their breasts.



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Angela O'Brien
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There are also medieval bras. At least four types of them were found in 2012 by a group of archeologists in the Lengberg Castle, Austria.

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 The history of the bra momentarily changed direction in the 16th century AD when women in the Western world adopted the corset.

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This garment lifted up her breasts and shrank the waist to width and shape that was considered a feminine beauty ideal at the time. 

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