In 1887, in Cologne, Germany, Max Lobbenberg and Emil Blumenau founded 'Ski Corset', a corsetry company which survived the First World War and the Great Depression to become one of the most successful manufacturers in Germany, with subsidiary companies in Paris, Amsterdam, London and the U.S.A. The rise of the Nazis forced the Jewish owners to sell Ski Corset to a Bavarian Company; but the London subsidiary, under Hans Blumenau (son of Emil) continued to operate, under a different name. 'Silhouette Corset' was born and, throughout the 1930s, it flourished to become one of the UK's leading corsetry companies.
As well as providing traditional foundationwear garments to the women of Britain, it was during this early period that Silhouette, always at the forefront of innovation, brought into existence the world's first (and perhaps only) radioactive corset. In 1937, the company successfully marketed the 'Silhouette Radiante' to a British public eager to try for themselves the '...stimulating, even rejuvenating influence of radiation (certified by no lesser authority than the Marie Curie Institute). The company also helped the Second World War effort, by making bras and suspender belts for the W.A.F.S., A.T.S. and W.R.E.N.S. In the late 1940's, Silhouette moved to Shrewsbury, while retaining a London showroom.