The Bra Celebrates its 100th Birthday Listen Download Embed Share Share this on Facebook (Opens in a new window) Share this on Twitter (Opens in a new window) Share this via Email A hundred years ago, a young inventor named Mary Phelps Jacob received the first patent for the modern bra, creating a radical shift in the way women dress. ( gennady / Shutterstock ) Produced by Jillian Weinberger and Ellen Frankman Produced by PRI and WNYC