One of the most sensuous and enthralling beachwear- Bikini was invented and introduced in the year 1946 by two French fashion designers: Louis Reard and Jacques Heim. Bikini is a popular two-piece beachwear whose craze later spread on to America. This sexy beach garment was launched on 5th July 1946 in France with French model Micheline Bernardini paraded it at a pool side fashion event in Paris. This skimpy attire shocked the onlookers, reporters but later became a major rage all across the globe.

Though Bikini was introduced approximately 60 years back, but this sensual and titillating garment can be traced to 1600 BC where it can be seen in the paintings of those times. Fashion designer Louis Reard named the garment as 'Bikini' as a result of the Earth-shattering result it had on people viewing it. He named it in the honor of the experiments on atomic bomb detonation at the Bikini reef.

In the 1940s and 50s bikinis were quite modest as compared to the current times; during the 1970s, this garment underwent a complete transformation to become more revealing and sensuous. Designers came out with different styles, patterns, prints and experimented with quite a few natural and synthetic fabrics to create an impression.