Main content

Why I invented the sports bra

When Lisa Lindahl couldn't find a comfortable bra to run in, she decided to design one. In 1977 she and a friend fashioned the first modern sports bra and built a company.

When Lisa Lindahl couldn't find a comfortable bra to run in, she decided to design one. In 1977 she and a friend fashioned the first modern sports bra out of two pairs of men's supportive underwear or 'jockstraps'. Lisa told Rebecca Kesby how they perfected their design with the newly available stretchy fabrics of the late 1970s, and went on to build a multi-million dollar company.

(Photo: An early advertisement for "Jogbra" 1979. Courtesy of Lisa Lindahl's private collection.)

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Mon 18 Feb 201904:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Thu 14 Feb 201909:50GMT
  • Fri 15 Feb 201900:50GMT
  • Sat 16 Feb 201914:50GMT
  • Sun 17 Feb 201915:50GMT
  • Mon 18 Feb 201904:50GMT

Olympic history

Olympic history

The inside and personal story of the key moments from sporting history

Sporting Witness Films

Sporting Witness Films

Watch sporting heroes tell their stories of astonishing achievement

Podcast