Readers, you may be shocked to learn (as was this author) that the sports bra was not invented until the late-1970s.  Fortunately, creative entrepreneurs Lisa Lindahl, Hinda Miller and Polly Smith collaborated to develop the Jogbra®, a seemingly long-overdue innovation that provided proper support for women’s bodies during athletic activities.

The idea came to Lindahl, an avid runner, in 1977 after becoming frustrated with the lack of garments that provided adequate chest support during physical activity.  At the time, Lindahl was running over 30 miles per week.  Meanwhile, Miller and Smith (both with master’s degrees in design from NYU) were working together in costume design for a Shakespeare festival in Burlington, Vermont. When Lindahl asked her childhood friend Smith to help develop the garment, Miller, an avid athlete, joined the project.

Lindahl developed a list of qualities the ideal garment should have—stable straps, no elements that could chafe, breathable fabric, and compression—and then worked with Smith to develop a prototype. Smith’s first iteration comprised two jock straps sewn together, which Lindahl and Miller tested on a run.  Smith then chose a cotton-LYCRA® blend for the fabric and the sports bra was born.  The trio continued their collaboration, commercializing their creation as the Jogbra®, and receiving a patent covering their innovation in 1979.

The patented “Athletic Brassiere” featured a seamless, compressing front panel, non-chafing exterior seams, crossing elastic straps and a wide elastic rib band.

Lindahl and Miller co-founded Jogbra Inc., and sales and profits took off in the first year.  Jogbra Inc. was eventually purchased by Champion in 1991, forming the Champion Jogbra division.

Miller served as president, CEO and vice president of communications for Champion Jogbra before leaving in 1997.  She subsequently served as a Vermont stte senator through 2012, and currently runs a business consulting firm for entrepreneurs.  Miller is a named inventor of 6 U.S. patents.

Lindahl, who was diagnosed with epilepsy at age four, went on to serve as senior vice president on the board of the Epilepsy Foundation of America from 1992 to 2001 and was awarded a Congressional Commendation for her work in 1999.  In 2001, she co-created the Bellisse Compressure Comfort Bra, a patented compression garment for breast cancer patients and survivors.  Lindahl is a named inventor on 10 U.S. patents.

Smith took a position with the Jim Henson Co. in 1978, where she spent many years as a designer.  She worked on numerous television shows and films, and her work in design has been recognized by the Emmy Awards.  Smith holds three U.S. patents.

Author:  Caroline Marsili