A Gender-Neutral History of the Thong
The thong. Tiny, daring, and somehow both practical and scandalous. You might think it’s a modern invention, but this little strip of fabric has been shaking things up for centuries.
Early Origins
Way back in Africa around 42,000 B.C., some of the earliest garments resembling thongs, made from animal skins and cords, were recorded. Yep, basically the predecessor of our Mimi—don’t worry, though, we only use vegan leather; no leopards were harmed in the making of our thongs. Ancient Egyptians, Minoans, Mycenaeans, and even Japanese sumo wrestlers got in on the action.
In all these cases, thongs were predominantly worn by men. So… idk why y’all are refusing to wear them today 😉.
The 1800s: The Jockstrap Precedes the Thong
Fast-forward to 1874: the jockstrap was born to protect male athletes’ bits. Think of it as the thong’s sporty great-great-grandparent. Women would have to wait a bit longer to get their turn in the cheeky spotlight.
1939: New York World’s Fair Thong Mandate
Ironically, the first thong for women was designed to cover more skin. At the 1939 World’s Fair in New York, nude dancers were told to cover up by then-mayor Fiorello La Guardia. Clever designers responded with underwear that left the butt exposed but covered the pubic area.
For most people back then, big, modest underwear was still the standard. Thongs were strictly for formerly fully nude, now nearly nude dancers. But that’d change in a few decades…
The 1970s: The Thong Swimsuit is Born
1974: designer Rudi Gernreich drops the first thong swimsuit, making waves (literally) for more revealing swimwear. A year later, models Lisa Taylor and Jerry Hall were photographed in one-piece black thong swimsuits by Helmut Lang.
In 1979, Gernreich patented the design for the first thong. He was also an activist for the LGBTQI+ community and used his clothing as a social statement for sexual freedom. So yes, you can wear our Velvet Serpent thongs with Pride 🌈.
The 1980s: The Thong Goes Mainstream, Thanks to Cher.
Enter the ’80s: Frederick’s of Hollywood starts selling “scanty panties” to help women finally ditch the dreaded VPL. (The company also sold a ton of edible underwear, but that’s another story.)
What’s more quintessentially 1980s than a leotard with a sky-high legline? High-leg cuts weren’t exclusive to workout gear—they were the most on-trend panty shape of the decade. High-cut satin panties were all the rage, giving us that classic 80s, legs-for-days silhouette that we at Velvet Serpent are DESPERATE to bring back.
As the thong became popular in the '80s. Cher took it to the next level in the 'If I Could Turn Back Time' music video, strutting in her leather thong for all to see. That could be you, in your Mimi leather thong, just saying. Apparently, she did it just to show off her new butt tattoo. Relatable. This thong was actually sold at auction in 2022, which one of you perverts bought it, huh?
1999: Sisqó’s Love Letter to the Thong
The late ’90s gave us the gift of Sisqó’s “Thong Song.” Charting at No. 3 on Billboard, it celebrated the thong in the most… descriptive way possible. And just like that, the thong became both lingerie and pop culture legend. We're still waiting for someone to write a song about our french-knicker inspired thongs. Hit me up if that's you, we'll send you a free pair 😉.
2000s: Low-Rise Jeans Make Room for the Thong
By the early 2000s, low-rise jeans gave thongs their moment to shine. Celebs like Christina Aguilera, Aaliyah, and Gwen Stefani turned that peek of fabric into a fashion statement. The thong was no longer just underwear, it was an accessory.
2010s–Today: Still Kicking
In the 2010s, brands started putting more focus on invisible or “bare” lingerie. The rise of ethical, inclusive brands also influenced thong design. For example, Nubian Skin, launched in 2014, makes “nude”-tone underwear for people of colour, expanding inclusivity in thong design.
We’ve noticed the exposed thong trend from the 2000s making a comeback. It’s more than just nostalgia; it’s self-expression, empowerment, and a little FU to the trad-wife, conservative, clean-girl aesthetic that these algorithms are pushing.
The thong is alive, thriving, and unapologetic.