Have you ever seen the tiny bow on the front of women’s underwear and thought, “What’s that for?” You’re not the only one!

Though it looks like a cute design, the little bow on the waistband of your underwear has a surprising and interesting history that many people don’t know about!

No matter where you are in the world, you probably have a pair of women’s underwear with a cute bow stitched in the middle of the waistband. This common feature appears on many brands, but most people don’t really notice or think about it.

However, some internet users have started to question the mystery of this decorative loop found on women’s underwear. One curious person posted online, asking, “Why do so many panties have that little bow on the center front?”

The responses included a mix of interesting history and funny insights.

“Because they don’t have a fly? I read that the bow helps you feel the front from the back,” said one user.

Another user wrote, “It’s cute, it’s feminine, it represents innocence, and it makes it easy to tell which side is the front when you’re getting dressed quickly in the dark.”

This same user also shared some background on the design. “The tradition goes back to before elastic was used, when underwear was held up by a ribbon threaded through lace. The bow is where you tied that ribbon, and it’s in the front because that’s the easiest place to do it.”

Explaining “drawers,” another online user noted that underwear used to be “two separate legs tied together with string at the waist.” “You pulled the string to bring the legs together, which is why they were called drawers. They were tied in a bow, so that’s a nod to those times,” the person explained.

Some users were surprised by this explanation, with one commenting, “It makes it easier to dress in the dark,” and another saying, “This just blew my mind.”

A third user called the bow a “stupid” design but agreed that it’s “interesting to know why they were there,” while another mentioned, “I always take them off.”

Let’s explore some purposes of the humble bow that often goes unappreciated.

A nod to tradition: The bow on women’s underwear dates back many years to a time when elastic waistbands didn’t exist. Back when corsets and long skirts were common, underwear didn’t have the stretchy feel we know today. Instead, it was tied with a ribbon or string at the front to keep it in place. The bow helped hide the knot and made it look a little nicer.

Dressing in dim light: Before electricity, women often got dressed by candlelight or in the dark. The bow helped them quickly find the front of their underwear. It was a simple but useful marker when they were getting ready in low light.