Lithuania, 1895
Retailer and Seamstress

The founder of Lane Bryant (her legal name after a clerical error turned Lena to Lane and she married David Bryant, a Russian Jewish immigrant), Himmelstein created the first commercial maternity dress around 1911. This was a breakthrough for women who wanted to work or appear in public during their pregnancy. She was also the first to study stouter women’s figures scientifically and design clothing for their bodies. Himmelstein was a pioneer in employee benefits and a philanthropist. (1879-1951)