Sara Blakely founded Spanx in 2000 after inventing footless body-shaping hosiery.
Blakely developed the idea when she wanted a smoother look under white trousers but could not find the right undergarment. She cut the feet from a pair of control-top pantyhose and refined the concept before launching the company. The product was initially designed for women, although Spanx later expanded into men's apparel and other categories.
Spanx became a notable bootstrapped entrepreneurship story because Blakely started it without outside investment and retained ownership for many years. A common misconception is that Spanx began as a conventional fashion label; its first signature product was an undergarment solving a specific clothing problem.