How Did Men's Underwear Become a Sports Bra?
Wednesday, November 11, 2026167 words3 minutes1031 reads
In 1977, Lisa Lindahl enjoyed jogging in Vermont, in the United States. However, her ordinary bra made running painful. It offered too little support and rubbed against her skin. She asked her friend Polly Smith, a costume designer, for help. Another designer, Hinda Miller, joined them.
The women needed a design that reduced movement without making runners too hot. Early ideas were unsuccessful. Then Lindahl's husband jokingly pulled a jockstrap over his head. This is supportive underwear that men wear for sports. Smith saw a possibility: she changed two jockstraps and sewed them together.
The result became the Jogbra. Lindahl and Miller began selling it through mail orders and shops. The design received a US patent in 1979, giving the invention legal protection.
The product arrived as running grew more popular and more women entered organized sports. It addressed a practical need: clothing designed for women's bodies could make exercise more comfortable. The business later grew beyond the small group of runners the women had first imagined.
