Why Women’s Undergarments Often Feature a Small Decorative Bow

Yet the origins of this tiny loop are far more practical than most people realize. Beneath its delicate threads lies a history of problem-solving, adaptation, and human creativity. It illustrates how a small functional feature can endure even when its original necessity disappears.

Life Before Elastic Waistbands
To understand the bow’s origin, we need to go back to a time when elastic waistbands were not yet available. Before the invention and widespread adoption of elastic, women’s undergarments relied on ribbons, ties, and fasteners to stay in place.

Early drawers, as these garments were often called, were typically made of two separate pieces of fabric sewn together at the waist with a drawstring or ribbon.