Sara Blakely founded Spanx in 2000 after developing footless shapewear for women.
Blakely was working as a salesperson when she cut the feet from a pair of control-top pantyhose so she could wear them under white trousers without visible seams. She spent two years researching fabrics, patents, and manufacturing before launching the company.
Spanx initially operated with a small-business approach: Blakely wrote her own patent application, handled early sales herself, and secured production from a manufacturer in North Carolina. A major early boost came when Oprah Winfrey named Spanx one of her favorite products in 2000.
The company became a notable example of a consumer brand launched without traditional venture-capital funding. Blakely retained ownership for many years, helping make Spanx a frequently cited case study in bootstrapped entrepreneurship and women-led business.