It all depends what you mean ... In various parts of ancient Greece the brassiere, in one form or other, was employed; paradoxically, in view of the free attitudes towards mixed nudity, naked athletics and the like, brassieres have been associated with the ancient inhabitants of Sparta. They were also used in China and elsewhere.

The now almost extinct ancient Chinese brassiere has been likened to a small apron, introduced by Yang Kwei-fei, a concubine of Emperor Hsuan Tsung of T'amg in the eighth century. In fact the charming creature only decided on the creation of a "brassiere" to cover bites made by an "illegitimate" lover.