Two silk handkerchiefs. One idea about support. A century later, the idea went to the beach.
Two Silk Handkerchiefs Changed Everything
In 1925, Rosamond Klin took two silk handkerchiefs and crossed them over the bust. No wires. No boning. No rigid structure. Just geometry working with the body. The result was the Kestos bra — the first modern brassiere — and it changed how women dressed, moved, and lived. The design was so ahead of its time that its principles still outperform most construction methods used today.
"Support through tension, not compression — a philosophy that defined a century."
Original Posters & Designs
A curated collection from the Kestos archive — original advertisements and design illustrations that shaped a century of intimate apparel.
"The scientific cut of this lovely piece of lingerie causes a natural centre depression, and due to its gentle cross-pull and uplift, it moulds the figure to the firm, rounded contours of youth and charm."— From the original Kestos advertisement, c. 1930s
Heritage Architecture, Modern Fabric
The original Kestos used two overlapping triangular cups with straps that crossed at the back, creating support through tension rather than boning. A century later the geometry is unchanged. What changed is the material: recycled polyamide, chlorine-resistant elastane, a knit that holds its shape wet and dries flat.
1925 Original
Crossed silk panels, button-fastened straps. Support through geometry, not compression.
2025 Revival
Recycled polyamide and chlorine-resistant elastane. The same crossover, cut for land and water.
Key Moments
The Patent
Rosamond Klin files the crossed-front patent in London. The Kestos bra is born — two triangular cups overlapping at centre front, straps crossing at centre back. Support through tension, not compression.
Global Recognition
Kestos expands across Europe and into the United States. The design is celebrated in Vogue for its comfort and innovation, becoming synonymous with the modern silhouette.
Art Deco Advertising
Leo Klin, artist and co-director, creates the iconic "When Dancing Wear a Kestos" campaign — Art Deco illustrations of elegant women in motion that define the brand's visual identity for a generation.
The Golden Age
The brand name "Kestos" becomes generically interchangeable with "brassiere." Featured in fashion editorials, adopted by athletes and performers, the design spawns countless imitators across Europe and America.
"We Thought Of It First"
Frustrated by copycats, Kestos boldly proclaims its originality. During WWII rationing, the brand adapts under the CC41 utility scheme, proving the design's enduring practicality.
The Revival
A century later, Kestos returns to the water. The original crossover geometry, in a fabric built for salt, sun and chlorine, made for the whole day at the coast rather than one hour of it.
The world caught up.
We went back to the water.
For a century, the industry kept swimwear in one drawer and activewear in another. Two outfits, two compromises, and a change in a parking lot in between. We saw the same problem Rosamond Klin saw in 1925: complexity where a simpler geometry would do. So we brought Kestos back, not as a nostalgia project, but as one set for the people who spend whole days at the water and don't want to think about what they're wearing.
Three Core Values
No Compromise
One set for the water and the hours around it. We refuse the idea that you need to choose.
Built to Last
74% recycled polyamide, chlorine-resistant elastane, UPF 50+ protection. Engineered for hundreds of sessions.
Heritage Forward
A 1925 invention reengineered for modern performance. The best ideas aren't new — they're rediscovered.
Performance. Responsibility. Longevity.
