Intimate Apparel Market Week – February 1-6, 2026

History of Intimate Apparel Market Week

Intimate Apparel Market Week is sponsored by the Underfashion Club, a non-profit organization founded in 1958. The club was originally called The Corset and Brassiere Women’s Club, Inc. but changed its name to the Underfashion Club in 1963. The mission of the club is to educate young people and equip them with useful opportunities in the intimate apparel industry.

According to Tina Wilson, president of the club, “Taking responsibility for setting market week dates is a highly positive initiative for the UFC. We have become an organization that is relied on for networking, ideas, information, and supporting the future of the industry with student scholarships, grants, and internships.” She went on to say, “This is yet another way we are able to further support and engage our members and the intimate apparel marketplace.”

The term ‘intimate apparel’ was first used in the 1920s. Prior to this period, ‘underwear’ had been more commonplace, especially in England. Corsets, which had been the major garment among women’s intimate wear, fell out of style from the 1920s to the 1940s. This was caused by several factors, such as the rise of ‘flapper’ fashion and World War I, when the restrictive nature of corsets became an inconvenience for working women. However, they returned to the scene after World War II.

The 21st century has brought about more innovations and an increase in the comfort of women’s intimate apparel. No longer are strict rules followed that involve restrictive and oftentimes dangerous clothes, as the fashions are ever-changing to match the comfort and style of modern women.