A Brief History of the Gymnastics Leotard

The leotard derives its name from the man who invented it, gymnast and acrobat Jules Leotard.

In the 1800s, Leotard created the garment for men, but it soon became popular with women in the early 1900s as a swimsuit.

Also known as a maillot, the leotard was adopted by acrobats and circus performers and then by showgirls and burlesque performers.

For modesty’s sake, men were required to wear shorts over their leotards.

By the 1960s, however, designers began creating leotard-like lingerie.

In the 1970s leotards gained popularity as both mainstream fitness wear and street wear.

Today, leotards have achieved mass acceptance by both the gymnastics and dance community.