Lingerie fad: We like it hot!

We need to accept that it was the West which brought some good women’s lingerie to India. And thus, an indo-western slant to lingerie fashion would not be out of place. I believe the future will be promising for global trends in the advancement of women’s lingerie defined sheerly by what women truly want. Every culture has a unique perspective of intimate apparel reflective of religion, morals, natural recourses, technology, and this also states a woman’s position in society. The term ‘Lingerie’ was first used in the 1920’s with the goals of early lingerie to eliminate a woman’s curves rather than accentuate them. Womanly curves returned in the 1930’s through the technological advancement of man-made fabrics resulting in nylon and elasticised fabrics. The influence of World War II brought the silhouette of the ‘bullet bra’ that lifted and separated the bust. Finally, the advertising and marketing of womens lingerie broke the barrier of public approval. Since the 1940’s, technology in intimate apparel has delivered women’s needs for function, comfort, and fashion. Mouldable fabrics and foam pads have become commonplace, while seamless technology has replaced sewing. Now, the miracle of bras is not limited to push up pads. Perhaps the biggest marvel is that we continue to try to increase the size of the bust with less fabric to cover it. The future holds the promise of more functional lingerie that is unique to each persons needs. But the common thread that will always appeal to women is not just driven by technology, it is also driven by desire to feel pretty, beautiful, and glamourous, without sacrificing on comfort. The author is the Design Director of Secret Curves, New York.