Skims
Wigs for vaginas: influencer Kim Kardashian’s brand continues to scandalize the world. But these bizarre furry objects were fashionable long before social media. And your story is not the most pleasant.
Kim Kardashian’s clothing brand, Skims, has never been a stranger to controversial campaigns. In recent years, Skims has repeatedly made headlines for launching controversial products, such as the “nipple bra” and hip-enhancing shorts.
The latest release is no exception. Last week, the brand announced the launch of a fake hair micro “thong”, priced at 70 Australian dollars, available in twelve different variations of hair color and texture. The product was quickly identified as a “merkin” — a pubic wigthat is, one for the genital area. In Portugal, it costs €42.
Although this controversial thong was released as part of a 1970s-themed campaign, the merkin’s history goes back much further.
Venereal disease
The merkin is believed to have originated in early modern Europe. The “Oxford Companion to the Body” dates its debut to 1450, although its exact origins remain uncertain.
What is known for sure is the function of this curious piece of clothing. At the end of the 15th century, a major syphilis epidemic ravaged Europe. The initial outbreak became known as the “Great Plague.”. It caused widespread death and disfigurement, becoming less virulent in the following centuries.
As historian Jon Arrizabalaga and colleagues explain: “In some cases, the lips, nose or eyes were corroded, and in others, the entire sexual organs.”
Pubic wigs have become a practical way to disguise signs of the disease in the genital area. In addition to hiding syphilitic sores, merkins could help Mask the smell of decaying flesh with the use of lavender-scented powders.
It is estimated that, in the 18th century, one in five Londoners suffered from syphilitic infection. Admission records to London hospitals and hostels show that syphilis was particularly common among young, poor and mostly single women, who turned to sex work to survive.
With no effective cure until the beginning of the 20th century, it is not surprising that merkins were used to disguise unwanted symptoms.
pubic lice
Pubic wigs have also proven useful in preventing the spread of pubic lice. England and France faced widespread infestations until the 17th century. Shaving pubic hair was, of course, a proven method of prevention.
However, this shaved appearance carried a negative stigmaas it was associated with illness and debauchery.
The merkins offered a solution to this aesthetic paradox of the time: they allowed women to appear unshaven (thus healthy and clean) while, in reality, remaining shaved to prevent infestation. Wigs could be boiled or even baked after use to ensure sterilization.
Appearances in literature
Although the cultural concept of *merkin* predates, the first record of the term appears in *Observations and Travel* (1617), by John Taylor. The word appears in a satirical list of exotic and indulgent imports—such as “monkeys, marmosets and merkins” — suggesting that it was already recognized as a daring item, associated with vanity and excess.
Use was more common among sex workers, although it is plausible that wealthy individuals also used them to maintain an appearance of health and beauty.
Powdered wigs were adopted by the nobility in the 18th century to disguise hair loss and deformities caused by syphilis — therefore, it is not difficult to imagine that merkins had the same function.
In 1786, the term “merkin” officially entered the lexicon, being defined in Francis Grose’s “A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue” as “fake hair for women’s private parts.”
The “merkins” today
As public health improved and social attitudes toward hygiene changed, merkins fell into disuse.
By the end of the 19th century, they had practically disappeared, surviving only as a historical curiosity. One example is the “Victorian” photograph of a supposed merkins seller, which circulates on the internet as if it were a genuine image from the 19th century.
While the Skims micro thong may seem like just a provocative joke, the *merkin* itself has a centuries-old history — evolving from practical accessory to provocative fashion statement.
Skims’ “full bush” line sold out quickly after launch. Although the company has not clarified the intentions behind the product, its fame reignited the debate about “body hair standards”.
In some ways, these cultural conversations echo those of centuries past. The mere existence of the merkin is proof that female body hair has been a powerful symbol of health, sexuality, fashion and autonomy for hundreds of years.
