Visitors to the British Library’s Secret Maps exhibition are being treated to one of the more unexpected curiosities of the Second World War: a lingerie set created for Lady Mountbatten from genuine wartime escape maps printed on silk.
During the conflict, Allied airmen were issued with silk maps because the fabric was quiet, durable, and water-resistant – ideal for evading capture behind enemy lines. When peace arrived, rationing lingered long after the fighting stopped, and such materials often found a second life.
In Lady Mountbatten’s case, the result was both practical and playfully luxurious: a bespoke bra and French-style knickers fashioned from a silk map of Italy.
The display has garnered attention on Twitter following on from a post by historian and archaeologist Dr Elizabeth Norton.
The bra features a delicate single strap on each side, made from the same cartographic fabric, and a front fastening of two lengths of white elastic secured beneath each cup. The printed map depicts northern Italy, with the cities of Trieste and Milan clearly visible on the front panels. The matching knickers, fastened with three small buttons along one side, continue the Italian landscape across central and northern regions.
According to the accompanying history note, the set was made for the Countess from a silk escape map given to her by her RAF boyfriend during the war – a romantic gesture transformed into an intimate keepsake.
During the war, maps of enemy territory were often printed on silk or rayon, as these materials were lightweight, durable, and could be compactly stored or concealed. The fabrics were quieter than paper, resistant to moisture, and could even serve in emergencies as makeshift filters or bandages. Airmen relied on these maps to navigate safely if shot down, and prisoners of war could use them to aid escapes.
Now showcased among the hidden histories of wartime cartography, the lingerie offers a rare glimpse into the resourcefulness, romance and quietly subversive creativity that flourished behind the front lines.
The Secret Maps exhibition is taking place at the British Library in London until January 18 2026.
