The History of Corset — How Whales Shaped the Victorian Silhouette

Was whalebone ever bone? 🧵 In this video we unravel the myth and trace the story of baleen — from the Nantucket and New Bedford ships that chased whales across three oceans, to the corsets, buggy whips and umbrella ribs it stiffened, and the day petroleum and spring steel made the whole trade worthless. America's first global industry was built on a fiber that grew in a whale's mouth. If you enjoyed this textile history deep dive, like the video, subscribe to Fabric Myths, and leave a comment with the fabric origin story we should cover next 👇