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Underwear
They are of course mostly hidden and often an afterthought, but the underwear we choose to wear goes beyond simple comfort and utility. Our underwear says a lot more about who we are than we realize. Our selection here at Tieroom focuses on beautiful design and quality materials.
Cotton, the Eternal Fabric for Men’s Underwear
Fads and fabrics come and go, but one fabric that remains the leading choice in underwear is definitely cotton. Still today, there is a steadfast champion in men’s underwear: the simple cotton brief. Its popularity has peaked and waned over the years but there is once more a revival of cotton as the choice fabric for underwear. Often blended with other natural and synthetic fabrics, it is cotton that is the mainstay for men’s undergarments.
But why is this? Why does cotton remain the leading fabric used for the manufacture of men’s underwear? There are three excellent reasons worth mentioning here:
Breathability, Circulation:
Cotton is a natural fibre that is constructed in a way that allows for maximum air circulation. This instantly impedes the accumulation of dampness and warmth, which are two things no man ever wants accumulating in his nether regions! After all, too much moisture can result in distress and irritation of the skin, becoming a breeding ground for microbes. Synthetic materials, however advanced, simply don’t facilitate the same amount of air flow. This becomes even more apparent when a man works in a physically demanding vocation or works out at the gym. Nothing beats cotton for physical activity.
Allergies Away:
Many men have skin sensitivities, including contact allergies or conditions such as eczema. Cotton briefs are generally accepted as being hypoallergenic, making them far less likely to induce adverse reactions or irritating skin that is hypersensitive. Cotton strands are naturally smooth, less ‘jagged’ and thus less harsh when compared to synthetic strands. The more organic the quality of natural cotton, the better since cotton treated with insecticides or chemicals can negate its hypoallergenic properties.
Absorption Means Dryness:
Cotton is inherently absorbent due to its relatively loose fibres. As already stated, cotton’s ability to absorb perspiration and dampness means you remain dry all day long. This is what is known as its moisture-wicking capabilities. It is true that many synthetic materials also have strong wicking ability at first but eventually lose this feature due to degradation of their constituent chemicals. Having a natural fabric that wicks easily is particularly appealing for men who lead active lives or do physically demanding work or simply sweat easily.
What Exactly Is Viscose Bamboo?
Viscose bamboo has become all the rage as a choice of fabric for men’s underwear in recent years. Bamboo T-shirts, bamboo leggings, bamboo pyjamas – the fabric is everywhere, and that includes underwear made with bamboo. But what is meant by viscose bamboo? A viscose cloth is typically made from the wood pulp of trees such as eucalyptus. And then there is bamboo, which is actually grass.
Bamboo- derived bamboo describes how bamboo is processed for it to become a workable textile. Bamboo stalks are among the toughest materials in mature and so they need to be softened in a series of solutions to make them pliable. The pulp is then filtered, cleansed and eventually spun into a textile. Viscose bamboo is considered a synthetic material due to all the processes needed to make it, which does seem a bit odd, given that bamboo is naturally occurring.
Viscose bamboo is so used as a textile these days because it offers so many benefits. These include its superior softness. You just have to go onto TikTok or Instagram and find hundreds of videos featuring influencers and ordinary folk rhapsodizing about the sheer softness of bamboo garments! Viscose bamboo is also, like cotton, a moisture-wicking fabric, which is terrific for breathability and temperature regulation. Once again like cotton, it is also hypoallergenic and naturally antibacterial. It can also be sturdier than cotton, which can be helpful in creating undergarments that are especially form-fitting.
It also a potentially s0ustainable and eco-friendly fabric, since bamboo is a fast-growing plant that requires very little water to grow exceptionally quickly and that requires no pesticides or fertilizers. There are concerns that traditional viscose production can use harsh chemicals, however many manufacturers now use closed-loop systems to recycle chemicals or even use biodegradable chemicals in viscose production in order to be more sustainable.
Elastane, Cotton’s Prime Companion
Elastane is a synthetic fabric that is sometimes used to great effect with cotton to make men’s underwear. It is also known by more well-known commercial names such as spandex or Lycra®. It is a fabric comprised of highly pliable, flexible synthetic strands that give it its trademark elasticity (and, hence, name. But what exactly is elastane? According to a leading British fabric specialist firm, “Elastane" is an entirely synthetic fabric; no organic materials are used to make this substance, and it does not exist anywhere in nature.” So, it is the polar opposite of a fabric such as cotton since it’s entirely human-made.
Even if used as a small percentage of a garment’s fabric, elastane can still have a notable influence on the garment’s fit, ease and silhouette. Some of its notable attributes as a fabric include flexibility, retention of shape or form, adaptiveness to shape and freedom of movement, among others.
Cotton and elastane used as a blended fabric in underwear can create what is referred to as a stretch cotton effect, i.e. a fabric that is tighter in form yet easily stretches compared to 100% cotton.
Many men prize their underwear, knowing that not only is it their most intimate garment but also one of the most important for day-long comfort. Consider this quote: “From the cradle to the coffin underwear comes first." Those were the words of the German playwright, Bertolt Brecht. He makes a good point: underwear does play its crucial part in all stages of our lives as men.