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