Inventive Minds: Inventors of the Sports Bra

Lisa Lindahl was one of millions of Americans who started jogging as part of the running and fitness boom that swept the United States in the 1970s. But as much as she loved running, it was painful because supportive running bras didn't exist. Lindahl teamed up with her childhood friend, costume designer Polly Palmer Smith, and Smith's colleague Hinda Miller to solve that problem. They deconstructed two men’s athletic supporters and sewed the pieces into a prototype sports bra they called “Jogbra.” Lindahl and Miller first sold their invention through mail orders and quickly expanded into a successful company.

Lemelson Center archivist Alison Oswald interviewed Lindahl, Miller, and Smith in March 2020. The full oral history is available in the museum's Archives Center.