Buzz
Whether you give it little thought or consider it deeply, underwear can be a matter of great attention. Here are 10 fascinating facts about this underappreciated clothing item, from the controversial to the culinary.
10. Underwear Designed to Prevent Wedgies
Any kid who has been bullied can attest to the unpleasantness of the dreaded wedgie. Most of the time, it’s little more than childish horseplay, but there have been instances of serious injury to the testicle area after wedgies. And on December 21, 2013, 58-year-old Denver St. Clair was killed when a drunken argument with his stepson ended in a wedgie that pulled his underwear over his face, suffocating him.
In 2007, eight-year-old twin boys Jared and Justin Serovich were in their Ohio home, giving each other wedgies, when someone joked that they should invent wedgie-proof underwear. This spurred the boys to create the “Rip Away 1000,” underwear with velcro fasteners that come free if someone roughly pulls it. After winning an invention contest, the boys became media darlings, appearing on television news and getting a spot on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Perhaps inspired by the boys, the movie Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 also features wedgie-proof underwear.
9. Edible Underwear
In 1975, Chicago natives Lee Brady and David Sanderson teamed up to create “Candy Pants”—the very first edible underwear. Although they faced challenges securing a patent for their creation, they eventually succeeded. Today, edible underwear is a popular gag gift for events like bachelorette parties, but the mid-’70s was a different era. At the peak of their popularity, Candy Pants were pulling in an impressive $150,000 a month in sales.
The original version of edible underwear was a candy-based garment, similar to the texture of Fruit Roll-Ups. The success of companies in making this clothing taste good varied greatly. One review described a sample as “a thicker, super-sticky Listerine breath strip that disintegrated in our mouths into a plastic goop.”
8. Mormon Underwear
The Mormon branch of Christianity has often been in the spotlight, especially because of the belief that a man should have several wives. While this may seem like the plot of an adult film, Mormons have strict rules regarding abstinence outside marriage, including a prohibition on masturbation. Their commitment to chastity extends even to the garments they wear.
Mormon underwear, designed for both men and women, represents a symbol of dedication to the church. The set includes a white T-shirt and basic white boxer briefs, featuring small religious symbols. These garments are exclusively available through specialized stores and church-affiliated websites.
These “temple garments” received notable attention during the 2012 US presidential election. Mormon Mitt Romney faced off against Barack Obama, with late-night hosts and political cartoonists poking fun at the wealthy Republican through his underwear.
7. Abercrombie’s Children’s Thongs
Fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch has been at the center of many controversies over the years, including the 2002 release of shirts featuring Asian stereotypes, such as “Wong Brothers Laundry Service—Two Wongs Can Make It White.” However, the company caused even more of an uproar later that same year with its children’s line, which released thongs for young girls. The designs included phrases like “eye candy” and “wink wink.”
The response was swift, with many calling for boycotts, but the company firmly defended the provocative designs. They stated, “The underwear for young girls was intended to be fun and playful. Any misinterpretation of that is purely in the eye of the beholder.”
Although provocative advertisements and skimpy undergarments helped Abercrombie gain popularity among teens, the company faced less approval from their parents. Revenue has plummeted, and the future of the brand remains uncertain.
6. The Men’s Underwear Economic Index
During challenging times, people often focus on essentials and cut back on non-necessary purchases. While extravagant items like espresso machines and Ferraris may take a backseat in a recession, some goods still see steady demand. Men’s underwear is one of these. The market for men’s underwear generally remains stable, and former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan has noted that any drop in sales signals that the economy is facing severe trouble.
In 2009, the global financial meltdown saw stock indexes falling and institutions like Lehman Brothers going bankrupt. Men’s underwear sales took a 2.3 percent hit across the market. However, as the economy rebounded, so did the market for men’s underwear, which surged by 6.4 percent in 2011, growing from $3.08 billion to $3.28 billion.
5. Prison
Prisoners often take on work that occupies their time, teaches them valuable skills, and allows them to earn a small income. While the classic image is of tattooed men forging license plates, they actually have a range of jobs. In the 1990s, Third Generation, a subcontractor, employed inmates in a South Carolina facility to produce underwear for Victoria’s Secret. The thought of convicts being behind the creation of your delicate lingerie might make you rethink the appeal of wearing it.
The underwear situation for prisoners themselves is often more troubling, with many institutions facing shortages. At Taylorville prison in Illinois, inmates were found to be routinely issued soiled underwear in 2011. Meanwhile, in London’s overcrowded Brixton prison, inmates are restricted to just two clean pairs of underwear per week.
4. Anti-Fart Underwear
Flatulence is a natural part of life, both amusing and, at times, a bit embarrassing. For a long time, there were few solutions to this common problem, but thanks to advancements in science, help is now available.
The UK-based company Shreddies creates underwear for both men and women that are designed to eliminate even the most potent odors. This is achieved using a cutting-edge fabric called Zorflex, an activated carbon material. Initially created for individuals with digestive conditions such as Crohn’s Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, this product quickly became popular among anyone seeking a solution to flatulence issues.
Zorflex has multiple uses in the medical and industrial fields, including for wound care, ostomy bags, and protective clothing. The British Army issues antimicrobial Zorflex underwear to its soldiers, which can be worn for extended periods. Unlike regular cotton, which would break down quickly, Zorflex holds up under heavy use, and this is how the company Shreddies got its name—soldiers were so active that their underwear would literally shred from the constant movement.
3. The Trade In Secondhand Underwear
For many, the thought of wearing someone else’s underwear is revolting. However, in some of the world’s poorest regions, affordability often takes precedence over cleanliness. In Zimbabwe, for example, the import of secondhand underwear became so widespread that the government had to impose a ban on it in December 2011.
In wealthier parts of the world, the trade in used underwear takes on a different nature, with enterprising young women earning a considerable amount by selling their worn panties. In the early 1990s, vending machines in Japan began selling used panties, allegedly worn by schoolgirls. Although this practice was mostly curtailed by the Antiques Dealing Law, which restricts the sale of secondhand goods without government authorization, some machines are still rumored to operate.
In South Carolina, Christine Vetter was caught mailing used underwear from her adult website, along with other items such as tampons and condoms. She pleaded guilty to federal charges of “mailing indecent and filthy substances,” potentially becoming the first person to face prosecution under that statute.
2. Dog Underwear, For Science
In the early 1990s, researchers at Cairo University conducted a study on how different types of underwear fabric might influence sperm production. The study used dogs as test subjects, dividing them into three groups: one group wore no underwear, another wore cotton, and the last wore polyester. The polyester underwear was designed to be loosely fitted so that its reduced breathability wouldn’t impact the results.
The study spanned a period of three years.
During the first 24 months, the dogs were equipped with underwear, and their sperm was regularly tested. The control and cotton groups exhibited minimal changes in testicular health, whereas the polyester group suffered a noticeable decline in sperm count, more abnormal sperm, and overall degenerative damage. After 12 more months without underwear, most dogs in the polyester group showed signs of recovery, though two continued to experience damage.
The exact way polyester negatively impacted the dogs remains unclear. One theory suggests that polyester produced harmful electrical charges, which may serve as a cautionary tale for men next time they shop for underwear.
1. Color Blindness and Bold Underwear
Color blindness, while a relatively widespread condition, wasn’t formally recognized until the late 1790s when English chemist John Dalton brought it to light. Born into a Quaker family, Dalton grew up in a community known for its simple, modest attire. His modesty was put into question, however, when he gifted his mother a pair of red stockings for her birthday, believing them to be blue. His brother shared the same misperception, suggesting a genetic link to the condition.
Although Dalton was a distinguished scholar, his understanding of color blindness was flawed. He proposed that the issue stemmed from a blue tint in the fluid of his eyes. His commitment to science was so intense that he requested a lab assistant to extract the fluid from his eyes after his death, hoping to confirm whether it had a blue hue.
