The US intimate apparel trade, explained
This is an independent reference site. It covers what the Intimate Apparel Council was, how a bra is supposed to fit, what the law requires on a lingerie label, and where the industry meets to buy and sell.
This site is not the Intimate Apparel Council and does not speak for it, for the American Apparel & Footwear Association, or for any of the Council's former members. The old council website at this address went offline; this is a new site built in October 2026. See About.
What the Intimate Apparel Council was
The Intimate Apparel Council (IAC) was a division of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA). In 2012 its website described it as made up of "leading designers, brands, retailers and suppliers of intimate apparel products," with a mission to stimulate the growth of the intimate apparel business. It ran events around the New York market weeks and took part in consumer education about bra fit. Read the full history.
The guides
| Guide | What it answers |
|---|---|
| Bra fit guide | Why most women wear the wrong size, and the band, cup and strap checks fitters use |
| Care and fiber labels | What the FTC requires on a US bra or underwear label, including the special rules for elastic and lace |
| A short history of the bra | The 1914 US patent that started the modern bra business |
| Trade shows and market weeks | When and where the intimate apparel industry meets in New York and Las Vegas |
Three numbers worth knowing
- 85% of 104 women in a 2010 clinical study were wearing a bra that did not fit (bra fit guide).
- 145 °F: if hot water up to this temperature will not harm a garment, the FTC Care Labeling Rule does not require a wash temperature on the label (labels).
- 2007: the year CurvExpo announced CurveNY; its February 2023 edition drew more than 200 exhibitors (trade shows).
Sources
- The Intimate Apparel Council, home page as archived 30 Aug 2012 (Internet Archive)
- American Apparel & Footwear Association: Who We Are
- HelloBeautiful: 4 Bra-Shopping Rules To Follow (31 Aug 2010)
- Bra fit study of 104 women, J Sci Med Sport 2010 (PubMed 20451452)
- FTC: Care Labeling of Textile Wearing Apparel and Certain Piece Goods (16 CFR Part 423), rule text
- California Apparel News: CurvExpo Inc. Launches CurveNY Show (3 Aug 2007)