| The loincloth, worn thousands of years ago is | | | | The thong was worn for many years by exotic |
| likely to be the first undergarment worn by | | | | Brazilian dancers and was very widely worn during |
| humans and it evolved into the thong over the | | | | the festivals. These tight, tiny thongs grew in |
| years. Ironically, it was first worn by men in | | | | popularity during the 80s in South America and |
| ancient times before it evolved into part of | | | | were used as swimwear at the beaches. Its |
| women's lingerie in modern times. The Egyptians | | | | popularity and influence spread to various parts of |
| were one of the earliest people to wear this | | | | the world in the late 90s. |
| thong-like clothing. The earliest loincloths were | | | | In the US, the sexy thong only gained wide |
| made of leather and this was used until the | | | | acceptance in the 90s when exotic lingerie came |
| introduction of fabric much later on. The famous | | | | into the mainstream. Today, the thong is one of |
| King Tutankhamun was found buried with more | | | | the best selling styles of undergarment in the |
| than a hundred loincloths in his tomb. | | | | world. The size of the lingerie industry is said to |
| Some people in ancient Greece, Rome and Japan | | | | be over US$2 billion a year. |
| also wore loincloths. In Japan, sumo wrestlers in | | | | The thong became so popular that there were |
| particular are known to wear a loincloth when | | | | even songs written about it. The most famous |
| they are wrestling. In fact, right up to this very | | | | one was of course 'The Thong Song' by Sisqo |
| day, they still wear this. | | | | under the Def Soul label. The Thong Song from |
| In the middle ages, the loincloth was replaced by a | | | | Sisqo's debut album 'Unleash The Dragon' was |
| large, loose outfit called 'braies'. This was usually | | | | such a big hit that it reached number 3 on the US |
| made from linen and is much bigger than the | | | | pop charts and sold over 4 million copies |
| loincloth. The braies is made with a covering at | | | | worldwide. |
| the front that could be buttoned or tied closed. | | | | Besides the sexy thong, there are also many |
| In modern times, historians trace the thong's first | | | | different types and variants of exotic lingerie |
| public appearance to 1939 when New York Mayor | | | | available in the market today. Some of the |
| Fiorello LaGuardia directed that the city's nude | | | | different types of lingerie available include the |
| exotic dancers to dress more appropriately. | | | | chemise, camisole, boy shorts, bustiers, corsets, |
| Fashion designer, Rudi Gernreich was credited with | | | | teddy and G-string. |
| introducing the first modern thong back in 1974. | | | | |