Because panties have been the stars of lingerie since 1918

Have we ever told you about the historical origins of panties? From the tight, short trousers worn by upper-class boys during the Ancien Régime while women wore nothing under their many petticoats, to the lingerie trousers that became popular as women’s underwear in the 19th century, it’s time to dive into the panties story underwear.

The inside story of panties

To prevent this underwear from sticking out too much, which would be perceived as vulgar, it was shortened, inspired by men’s briefs, with an additional vent to keep the penis in the air, just in case. Another era, other customs…

As fashion offers increasingly simple and short dresses and skirts, even trousers that resemble capri pants are becoming shorter. Until Etienne Valton, son of the founder of the hosiery Valton-Quinquarlet & Fils, in Troyes, created the panties as we know them today, with a decisive stroke of scissors in 1918. Two years later, he renamed the company Petit Bateau, in a homage to children’s nursery rhymes, to better offer leather knitwear for the whole family.

In simple cotton or wool knit, without legs, without buttons, with an elastic belt at the waist, it becomes the new no-frills basic of lingerie that It makes life easier and more comfortable for many women. The latter tended to wear long woolen long johns, which were not always very practical.

A little panty for women, a big step for humanity

After the First World War, cotton became easier to access and gradually replaced animal material which became less and less necessary with the advent of central heating in many homes. From one thing to another, the improvements keep coming until this perpetual invention won the Grand Prize for Innovation at the 1937 Universal Exhibition.

In short, Petit Bateau panties bring together and embody numerous technical advances, as well as revolutionizing comfort and hygiene for many children and women. But it’s not because it’s a new indestructible base that it forgets it is a fashion object, capable of adapting to trends. Many brands have faced it such as Maison Kitsuné, Castelbajac, Carven or Inès de la Fressange. The latter even explained in the pages of the magazine SHE in 2005:

“When I was little, Petit Bateau panties were mandatory. There was also a reassuring side to the quality of this underwear. I liked it when they launched low-rise briefs on the market in 2002, more James Bond-like and less cheesy. »

And you, what is your story with Petit Bateau briefs? Proust’s Madeleine that reminds you of childhood or a certain value that still populates your drawers as an adult?

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