Throughout history, lingerie and undergarments have served a variety of purposes, from providing chest support for physical activity, to including decorative details for only the wearer to see, to shaping and enhancing various body types.

Lingerie comes from the French word for linen wear, because originally European undergarments were made of linen textiles. Nowadays, lingerie can include garments of any fiber, including bras, panties, shapewear, boudoir accessories, and more, whether they are practical, decorative, sexy, modest, or anything else.

As you can imagine, the detailed craftsmanship required by lingerie means that it's labor-intensive. And time equals money. For this reason, many expensive lingerie brands source materials and manufacture their garments globally, seeking the best quality, skilled labor, and competitive prices.