The Evolution of Swimsuits (Part one)
Sportswear has taken three great leaps in recent times. The first time is the Victorian period: from 1840 to 1900; the second time is the first half of the 20th century: from 1914 to 1960; the third time is the period from the 1960s to the present. Therefore, swimsuits have also undergone significant reform and development during these three leaps.
(1) Initial development stages
The evolution of swimwear in the Victorian period
In the Victorian period, clothing was better developed due to the higher education of people and the improvement of women's social status, especially the changes in women's clothing. The world's first swimsuit came out in 1870. At that time, it was called a swimming suit and was widely used. However, due to the influence of factors such as strict and closed social etiquette, ideology and culture, ethics and morality, the design and production concept of swimsuits at that time was modified based on the characteristics of swimming and daily clothing, which was not conducive to swimming and was very complicated and cumbersome.
During this period, not exposing skin was a social concept. Men's swimsuits were similar to the loose gowns worn by prisoners today, which looked quite funny. At that time, it was taboo for women to expose their hands and feet due to factors such as etiquette and moral concepts. Seeing women's feet would be considered an obscene act, so women should cover their whole body from head to toe when swimming and wear stockings. The earliest women's swimsuit in the world is a long bathrobe with many pleats around the neck, which looks like a big cloth bag. After wearing such a swimsuit, it will stick to the body, which is very uncomfortable. At that time, swimwear also included shirts and socks that are attached to the body. Children's swimsuits are similar to today's children's swimsuits.
(2) Evolution and improvement stage: the evolution of swimsuits in the first half of the 20th century
At the beginning of the 20th century, with the rapid economic development, people's minds were greatly liberated, and sports gradually penetrated people's daily life and gradually became an important cultural form of human beings. Therefore, the design and production of clothing suitable for corresponding sports events have become an urgent problem for the clothing manufacturing industry at that time. During this period, men's swimwear has been simplified to shorts, which are very convenient for swimming. The most notable change is women's swimwear. The high collar and floral sleeves on the original clothing are removed, and the length of the dress is also shortened to the knee. Sweaters and woolen vests were also popular at the time.
The outbreak of the First World War (1914 to 1917) and the Second World War (1937 to 1945) caused great social integration. After the war, the Western economy grew rapidly, which in turn led to the development of sports culture. Sportswear became more and more professional, and swimwear has taken a great leap. During this period, the development of men's swimwear was relatively stable and changed little. At the Eighth Olympic Games in 1928, men's swimsuits were still similar to modern women's swimsuits, but more conservative. During the outbreak of the two world wars, women's culture and feminist movements emerged one after another; women's competitive sports also improved rapidly, and women's swimsuits developed rapidly, especially the increase in the degree of exposed skin. In 1920, in a beauty contest held in California, the swimsuits worn by the contestants were miniskirts, and the design of the shoulder was quite close to modern swimsuits. In 1930, the backless women's swimsuit came out. In 1934, the swimsuit with upper and lower parts was officially launched. In the late 1930s, women's swimsuits were divided into upper and lower parts, with a bra on the top and shorts that reached the root of the thigh on the lower body.
The top and bottom were connected by rings and straps at the abdomen. In the 1940s and 1950s, silk swimsuits dominate the swimming world. In the 1950s, highly stretchable nylon swimsuits became popular in the world. For example, Australia won 8 medals in the Melbourne Olympics in 1956. Australian wore swimsuits in all-nylon, which became an innovation at the time. By the late 1950s, a swimsuit had evolved into a bikini. It can not only reduce the resistance of water, but also show the beauty of women.
(1) Initial development stages
The evolution of swimwear in the Victorian period
In the Victorian period, clothing was better developed due to the higher education of people and the improvement of women's social status, especially the changes in women's clothing. The world's first swimsuit came out in 1870. At that time, it was called a swimming suit and was widely used. However, due to the influence of factors such as strict and closed social etiquette, ideology and culture, ethics and morality, the design and production concept of swimsuits at that time was modified based on the characteristics of swimming and daily clothing, which was not conducive to swimming and was very complicated and cumbersome.
During this period, not exposing skin was a social concept. Men's swimsuits were similar to the loose gowns worn by prisoners today, which looked quite funny. At that time, it was taboo for women to expose their hands and feet due to factors such as etiquette and moral concepts. Seeing women's feet would be considered an obscene act, so women should cover their whole body from head to toe when swimming and wear stockings. The earliest women's swimsuit in the world is a long bathrobe with many pleats around the neck, which looks like a big cloth bag. After wearing such a swimsuit, it will stick to the body, which is very uncomfortable. At that time, swimwear also included shirts and socks that are attached to the body. Children's swimsuits are similar to today's children's swimsuits.
(2) Evolution and improvement stage: the evolution of swimsuits in the first half of the 20th century
At the beginning of the 20th century, with the rapid economic development, people's minds were greatly liberated, and sports gradually penetrated people's daily life and gradually became an important cultural form of human beings. Therefore, the design and production of clothing suitable for corresponding sports events have become an urgent problem for the clothing manufacturing industry at that time. During this period, men's swimwear has been simplified to shorts, which are very convenient for swimming. The most notable change is women's swimwear. The high collar and floral sleeves on the original clothing are removed, and the length of the dress is also shortened to the knee. Sweaters and woolen vests were also popular at the time.
The outbreak of the First World War (1914 to 1917) and the Second World War (1937 to 1945) caused great social integration. After the war, the Western economy grew rapidly, which in turn led to the development of sports culture. Sportswear became more and more professional, and swimwear has taken a great leap. During this period, the development of men's swimwear was relatively stable and changed little. At the Eighth Olympic Games in 1928, men's swimsuits were still similar to modern women's swimsuits, but more conservative. During the outbreak of the two world wars, women's culture and feminist movements emerged one after another; women's competitive sports also improved rapidly, and women's swimsuits developed rapidly, especially the increase in the degree of exposed skin. In 1920, in a beauty contest held in California, the swimsuits worn by the contestants were miniskirts, and the design of the shoulder was quite close to modern swimsuits. In 1930, the backless women's swimsuit came out. In 1934, the swimsuit with upper and lower parts was officially launched. In the late 1930s, women's swimsuits were divided into upper and lower parts, with a bra on the top and shorts that reached the root of the thigh on the lower body.
The top and bottom were connected by rings and straps at the abdomen. In the 1940s and 1950s, silk swimsuits dominate the swimming world. In the 1950s, highly stretchable nylon swimsuits became popular in the world. For example, Australia won 8 medals in the Melbourne Olympics in 1956. Australian wore swimsuits in all-nylon, which became an innovation at the time. By the late 1950s, a swimsuit had evolved into a bikini. It can not only reduce the resistance of water, but also show the beauty of women.
