History of Lingerie And Its Market In India

From being a topic that should be kept secretive to becoming a bold sign of progress and freedom, lingerie in the past 200 years has come an extremely long way. Beginning with the painful corsets of the 80s to the outerwear underwear, lingerie modified by styles, latest fashion trends, as well as the culture and climate of a place. Lingerie just like every other garment has experienced huge transformation. Along with that, what changed is the lingerie market, the buying pattern of lingerie has gone through radical changes, too. As people started opening up and globalization & liberalization hit the world, women became less conscious of revealing their bodies. Women started celebrating and embracing their feminine power, today they want their curves to be visible and enhanced in a way that makes them look more graceful and confident. Flashing your lingerie has become a fashionable trend today, hard to believe but it has always been in fashion culture reflecting the latest fashion for women. Fashion culture is constantly evolving and the latest fashion styles keep bouncing, the trends that were once considered inappropriate are now celebrated as chic latest fashion trends. Read on further to know about the evolution of women’s lingerie and how it became such a big market.

History Of Lingerie

The word “Lingerie” is derived from the French linen and the word came up with reference to the fabric from which underneaths were traditionally designed. The word became common only by the late 19th century, lingerie was widely used to depict underneath that moved beyond functionary to becoming a tool of gracefulness, read how lingerie has transformed through years and kept pace with the latest fashion for girls, men, and women-

The Earliest Form Of Underneath

The earliest form of underneaths arrives from Ancient Greece, women used to adorn a piece of cloth to support their breasts. This piece of cloth was wrapped around the front and was secured with pins in the back.

Ancient Rome

mamillare

It’s in the books, that in Ancient Rome women with the larger upper body were considered unattractive, and due to this women adorned tight supporting garments, known as a “mamillare” or a “fascia.” These garments would limit the appearance of the size of their busts. Unlike today the purpose of underneath then was functional rather than aesthetics. Women would mostly adorn these during athletic and dance events.

Middle Ages

The chemise was first designed during the Roman Era and they became acceptable during the Middle Ages. It was a loose undergarment adorned to save outerwear from sweat. They were not limited to women and were adorned by both men and women.

The Corsets

16th century Corsets

The first underneaths were corsets, and their appearance dates back to the 16th century. Their influence is sensed even in today’s latest fashion for women in the form of waist-trainers, lace-up lingerie, and even modern-day belts. Earlier corsets were available in wide varieties, with a sweetheart neckline and hip boning element for an exaggerated silhouette, with ribbon detailing on the front.

20th Century

Initially, handmade lingerie was considered elite afforded only by the very few. Fashion designer Lucile (Lady Duff-Gordon), designed camisoles, and petticoats using lace, chiffon, and crepe which added appeal to the sense of touch, and evoked sensuality for the 20th-century women’s lingerie. The emergence of artificial fibers such as rayon in the 1920s led to a democratization of lingerie. By the 1990s the garment slip was utilized by numerous fashion designers as outerwear, John Galliano, and Dolce & Gabbana played an essential role in popularizing it. Californian companies Victoria’s Secret and Frederick’s of Hollywood in the 1990s attracted both male and female consumers. It’s speculated that Victoria Secret in 2000 sold 600 pieces of lingerie per minute.

History Of Lingerie In India

Today lingerie falls in the ‘basic necessities’ chart, but in ancient India, there was no such thing as lingerie, and roaming around topless was common, all this could be witnessed into ancient Indian paintings and sculptures. In the Indian society, breasts weren’t as sexual back then, it was only with the arrival of the Britishers that blouses found a space in wardrobes across India. The British and Mughals brought the innerwear fashion culture in India, their belief forced both men and women to adorn underneaths. The west brought the corsets in the lingerie, but Indian women suffered a lot of pain in adorning them as they defied gravity by pushing the breasts higher than what the medical suggested. Although the corsets did provide the hourglass figure, they were so tight that women kept falling sick. The first revolution in the innerwear market of India took place when associated apparels introduced brassieres. And later in the 90s when globalization took place, the Indian market was suddenly flooded with foreign goods, lingerie was also a part of it. China-made fancy lingerie grabbed a lot of attention among the Indian consumers. Like in popularising every other latest fashion trend for girls, Bollywood has played an essential role in making the lingerie popular as well.

Lingerie Market

Today the women’s lingerie market is setting fashion trends in terms of fabric design, finish application, the introduction of wider color choices, and fitting. The wider availability of options in the Indian women’s lingerie market of categories like bras, camisoles, panties, tees, nightdresses, shorts, etc. has led to growth in the segment. The prospects for the lingerie market are enhancing at a rapid pace, and bras and panties contribute 85% of the total women’s lingerie segment. According to a speculated data lingerie market in India bloomed at a CAGR of 42.32% between the years 2014–2019.

Indian Lingerie Market[

In 2017 the total lingerie market size of India was 3 billion dollars, and before the outbreak of COVID-19, it was speculated to reach 6.5 billion dollars by 2023. Coming particularly to women’s lingerie market of India the figures in 2018 were INR 120 billion and before the crisis, it was expected to reach INR 275 billion by 2023.

Types Of Lingerie: Explained!

Following is the list of all the most popular lingerie pieces you should be aware of that stay in the latest fashion for women-

• A lingerie set

A lingerie set

It’s basically a combination of matching bra and panty set, they’re easily available in a fun print or girly colors, they are also available in soft satin or delicate lace styles.

• Shape-wear

Shape-wear

It’s a tight-fitting underneath garment, focused towards shopping and accentuating figure. They are best to adorn under bodycon dresses and low-rise bottoms. There are several types of shapewear available body briefs, long leg shapewear, waist cincher, etc. each for a different purpose.

• Camisole

Camisole

A Camisole is loose-fitting underneath garment for the upper body.

• A bralette

A bralette

It doubles up as a top and is often adorned for style and comfort. It has thin, delicate straps, the design includes laces. It can also be worn as a top, it has topped as the most popular fashion item among celebrities lately. It is the latest fashion for girls.

• A bustier

A bustier

It is a form-fitting intimate that pushes the bust-up, along with that it shapes the waist as well. It comes with options like strapless, seamless, push-up, and underwired bustiers.

• Corset

Corset

The corset has been in vogue ever since it’s emergence, it’s a tight-fitting underneath garment extending from below the chest to the hips.

• Bodysuit

Bodysuit

It’s an all in one underneath garment, combining the functions of a camisole and panties. This incredible garment covers the torso and crotch area.

• Thong

Thong

Thong is adorned both as underwear or a swimsuit. It’s extremely tiny and covers just the crotch area and at the backside, the material is reduced to a minimum. There are 2 categories of thongs- the G-string and the C-string.

• Chemise-

Chemise

It’s a tiny slip dress that is simple to get into. It’s slightly tighter around the hips than a babydoll, it can be adorned under a dress as an underslip.

• Babydoll-

Babydoll

A babydoll is a short, mostly sleeveless, loose-fitting dress, mainly adorned as nightwear.

Difference Between Bustiers And Corsets

Source: https://www.iknockfashion.com/history-of-lingerie-and-its-market-in-india/