The 100-year history of the modern bra

Did you know that on November 3rd of this year, the modern bra turned 100 years old?

Me either!

The first patent for the modern bra was issued in 1914. It was created by Mary Phelps Jacob when she was just 19 years old.

It consisted of two handkerchiefs sewn together with straps that tied around your neck. The look was similar to a halter top bikini. It wasn't as conforming, but it was much more comfortable than the metal corsets women had previously worn.

Jacobs, who later changed her name to Carasse Crosby, sold the patent to Warner Brother's Corset Company in Bridgeport, CT for $21,000.


Sources: TIME Magazine


Below is a timeline for the complete history of the bra. Click HERE for a larger view:

June 6th Silk Scarf Paining Party -A Look in to the HIstory of The Silk Road

Marilyn Johnson Sewing Design Studio is having a Silk Scarf painting party June 6th.  Examining the history of the The Silk road is an interesting way to see how different cultures use the silk fiber.   Rhea L. Combs' article Combs, Fashion at the Silk Road Festival states the Silk Road stretched from China east to Korea and Japan also to India and then South to Turkey and Italy.(Combs, 2008)  The Silk Road was the bridge between western culture and eastern Culture.  In China silk was used to clothe the emperor, fishing nets, paper, and musical strings.(Kurin, 2014) www.collegefashion.net  discussed the fashion history of scarves and how they were used. One example of historical uses, in ancient china warriors used their scarves to identify their military ranking. (Rachel, 2011) Women did not start using scarves as fashion accessories in Europe until 1800s.  The fashion trend for summer of 2014 is Hand painted silk scarves in bright colors. Based on the www.silkscarvesblog.com silk scarves add elegance, grace, and color to the wardrobe. What makes our craft party experience unique is the people who participate design their own silk scarf and leave with one of a kind fashion accessory .  

Work Cited:

Combs, Rhea L. Catwalking through Culture: Notes from 2002 Smithsonian Silk Road Festival, 2008 Journal of American Folklore 121(479:112-123

Kurin, Richard , The Silk Road Connecting People and Cultures. 2014 Smithsonian Institution. www.festivals.si.edu


Rachel, History of the Trend:Fashion Scarves Bulter University 2011                                                       www.collegefashion.net