The short history of Finnish Corsetry

The Finnish word “liivi” (pluralis “liivit”) means all heavy foundations, like corsets, corselettes, girdles, panty girdles, bras and garter belts, but NOT light underwear like briefs, panties, camisoles etc. Anyway, the “liiviliike” shops (= lingerie Shops) are selling all feminine lingerie.

All corsets were imported to Finland before 1880 when corset shops like Palmberg and Lindfors began to manufacture their own models. By 1900 there were only few corset factories in Finland, but already on 1930´s there were already more than 30. The golden era was 50´s and 60´s with more than 40 corset companies. The new innovation, panty hoses slowly put down the production numbers of girdles and corsets so that only one company, Tyyli, founded 1928 in Turku, survived independent until today and maintained production work in Finland. Now the demand of garters and corsets again is raising.

Oy Sjöblom Ab, was founded under the name J. Sjöblomin Korsetti ja Liina year 1912, concentrating to girdles and corsets during 1930´s. First bra they made already 1922. During 50´s and 60´s they manufactured by license american Peter Pan bras and girdles. The best known own mark of Sjöblom is Patricia.

Wiipurin Erikoiskorsettiliike (Special Corset Shop of Vyborg) has been working for decades, now in Helsinki, because Vyborg was occupied by Russians. They are manufacturing customised corsets to clients.

Figura is the most famous Finnish corset company and it was the biggest, too. They started the production in 1951. You can still by Figura foundations, but it is now in Swedish ownership.

Profile  started 1953 corset and girdle production under the company Oy Korsettiteollisuus Ab.  Later they used product name Finnprofile.

Other manufacturers were for ex. Diana, Finnform, Pamela, Perho-Liivi, SiSi, Suvi ja TuLi.

Liivia Lingerie www.liivia.org is a net shop and information centre for all kind of old models. Also historical models can still be manufactured and purchased by Liivia.

The most famous nylons in Finland since 1956 have been Amar.