Lisa Lindahl is an American writer, artist, activist, and inventor. Lindahl is credited as one of the inventors of the first women's general exercise bra, known as the jocksbra, along with theater costume designer Polly Smith, and Smith's assistant, Hinda Schreiber. Lindahl has been acknowledged for her many contributions to the Epilepsy Foundation, including teaching others about the cause, and raising money and awareness. She was born in Montclair, NJ in 1948, and grew up in Montclair, New Jersey. She attended the University of Vermont to complete her undergraduate and received her bachelor's degree in education in 1977. Previously she graduated from Vernon Court Jr. College in Newport, R.I. and the Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School in Montclair NJ. Later in life Lindahl finished her master's degree in culture and spirituality from Holy Names University in California in 2007. She currently resides in South Carolina.
Jockbra
Lindahl was in the middle of graduate school, which she put on hold, when she came up with the idea for the jockbra. Lindahl's sister Victoria Woodrow called her up one day to complain about her painful experiences having to just wear a normal bra while working out. During the course of Lindahl and theater costume designer Polly Smith's exploration for a better alternative, Lindahl's husband suggested that what they needed was a jockstrap for women's breasts. In the costume shop of Royall Tyler Theatre at the University of Vermont, Lindahl and Smith actually sewed two jockstraps together and nicknamed it a "jockbra". Smith's assistant, Hinda Schreiber, also helped with creating the bra. It was later renamed a "jogbra". One of their original Jogbras is bronzed and on display near the costume shop of the theatre. Two others are housed by the Smithsonian and another by the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. For years Lindahl held the role of president, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board for selling the invention. Then in 1990 Playtex purchased the invention. After Playtex's purchasing of the company, Lindahl still served as Co-President of the Jogbra.
Epilepsy
Lisa Lindahl suffers from epilepsy herself, and has made it one of her main goals to educate others on the topic. Lindahl took upon the role of Senior Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Epilepsy Foundation for several years. While holding this position Lindahl created The Women and Epilepsy Health Initiative, which has given opportunities for researchers to study the gender differences in epilepsy. For all her work to help the cause, the Epilepsy Foundation gave Lindahl a National Personal Achievement Award. Lindahl was also awarded a Congressional Commendation for her work on epilepsy by Vermont Senator, Jeffords in 1999.
Bellisse Compressure Comfort Bra
In later years, Lindahl joined with Dr. Lesli Bell to create a form of her previous bra invention that would serve as a compression bra to help breast cancer patients overcome the pain and discomfort associated with procedures. With Lindahl's prior knowledge of designing and entrepreneurship, in 2001 the two ladies invented the Compression Comfort Bra. Along with the creation of the Compression Comfort Bra, Lindahl also worked to educate people about truncal lymphedema, which many women with breast cancer suffer from, and Dr. Bell has continued teaching the public about this issue, and is now a world renowned public speaker on the topic.
Other contributions
Lindahl has also put her education and practice to good use by teaching a Women's Small Business Program at Trinity College in Burlington, Vermont. She also co-authored the book used in her course, Minding Your Business. Lindahl also taught business at Champlain College and Trinity College. She later served as a Trustee of the Vermont Land Trust, which is an organization devoted to conserving Vermont's landscape. Lindahl as well participated in a support and backing network for entrepreneurs. She was nominated for the Boss of the Year Award, and Entrepreneur of the Year award, by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers’ Association, and by Inc. Magazine. Lindahl was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2020 alongside co-inventors Hinda Miller and Polly Smith.
Present day
Lisa Lindahl's most recent publication is Unleash The Girls, The Untold Story of the Invention of the Sports Bra and How It Changed the World and Me, a business memoir about women in business dealing with success, power issues and personal growth. Her previous book, titled Beauty as Action, the Way of True Beauty and How its Practice can Change our World. is a self-help book for individuals who want to contribute to changing the current societal paradigm. Lisa Lindahl now resides in South Carolina where she continues to write and make art.
