C4IP is recognizing Lisa Lindahl, Hinda Miller, and Polly Smith, whose invention of the sports bra helped revolutionize women’s participation in sports.
- The trio developed their invention after Lindahl, an avid runner, asked Miller and Smith — who were working as costume designers — to help solve the discomfort caused by running in ordinary bras.
- The three women devised a prototype by sewing two men’s jockstraps together and patented their invention — which they called the Jogbra® — in 1979.
- Lindahl and Miller co-founded a company, Jogbra Inc., to market their invention, and experienced rapid commercial success as women increasingly entered athletics following the passage of Title IX.
- Their company was acquired in 1990 by personal care brand Playtex, which today is valued at over $1 billion.
- The global market for athletic bras is expected to surpass $1.1 billion by 2030.
- The invention of the sports bra helped fuel a revolution in women’s sports that only continues to accelerate: Women’s sports revenue was estimated at over $2.3 billion in 2025, up from less than $1 billion in 2023.
- In 2024-25, record numbers of women and girls participated in both collegiate and high school sports.
Lindahl, Miller, and Smith’s story is a powerful reminder of how strong IP rights help drive social, cultural, and economic progress through sports.