… corsets available in the 1880’s, as catalogs were available even to the western frontier of the United States, as well as custom tailors and easy-to-import high fashion due to brisk trade at the time with Europe. Most “every day” women bought reasonably priced corsets in generic sizes from catalogs or department stores, and then had them customized in finishing or fit locally or by a family member (or themselves).
The quality and manufacture; design and fabric and materials varied from costly oriental silk outer fabrics to durable cottons and duck. The #1 manufacturer of corsets at the time was the American, Royal Worcester company, started by a man and his mother.
(Photos: Royal Worcester basic mass produced long late Victorian corsets currently at auction offered at $800/both. At the time of their manufacture, they cost $4-$6 each).