The object
Sara Blakely invented footless control-top pantyhose and launched it as Spanx. The National Inventors Hall of Fame credits the product with making Spanx synonymous with shapewear, while Fortune covered Blakely speaking at the 2024 Texas Conference for Women. The record credits the specific garment rather than only company founding.
01
What Sara did
invented footless control-top pantyhose and developed the Spanx shapewear product
02
Why it matters
The National Inventors Hall of Fame says the product revolutionized shapewear and became synonymous with the category.
03
Living-status check
Fortune’s September 2025 report identifies Blakely speaking at an October 2024 public conference.