THE BEGINNINGS
The History of Underwear
The History of Underwear: From the Fig Leaf to Underpants
According to the Bible, Adam and Eve used products that were still entirely natural: Out of modesty, they are said to have covered themselves with fig leaves so that no one could see their private parts. The idea of underwear was born.
Things didn’t have to be quite so natural for the Romans, since they were already wearing other types of clothing and no longer wanted merely to protect their private parts from prying eyes. Under the toga, the Roman cloak, men wore a cloth called the subligaculum, which covered their genitals. How does the history of underwear continue?
Dark Times for Men's Underwear
With the fall of the Western Roman Empire, awareness of men’s underwear also faded. The barbarians—as the Romans called those who did not speak Latin—from the north apparently had no need for underwear. Consequently, no one wore underwear until the late Middle Ages.
Over time, however, so-called linen tunics became increasingly popular. Because they were made of linen and were therefore soft against the skin, they were worn as undergarments to protect the skin from the scratchy outer garments that were still in use at the time.
There's still time for men's underwear
It would be several more decades before men’s underwear, in the strict sense of the term, made a comeback. Changes in outerwear alone were not enough to bring about a widespread shift in hygiene practices. Only a few aristocrats or wealthy merchants indulged in the luxury of silk underwear.
However, the major inventions in the history of underwear—especially in the 1860s and 1870s—were made during this period: A new type of undershirt was invented. As early as 1876, the Prussian army was equipped with cotton underwear.
More comfortable with it than without it
Boxer shorts are invented
The first boxer briefs were introduced to the market in 1925 by the founder of the boxing apparel company Everlast. For the first time, an elastic waistband was used to allow for better footwork during boxing. That is why these underwear are still called boxer briefs today.
The first briefs, known as “Jockey,” were created less than ten years later. Unlike boxer shorts, this new style of underwear had no legs.
underwear as a service
The history of underwear goes even further. That’s because shopping for underwear has also become easier: Using the same principle as with socks, the founders of BLACKSOCKS have revolutionized the way underwear is sold. BLACKSOCKS turns underwear and T-shirts into a service. No more worrying about having enough underwear.
Insanely Soft T-Shirts
Whether worn as a base layer or on their own, T-shirts have become an indispensable staple in any man’s wardrobe. So the next logical step was to offer T-shirts made from the same high-quality cotton.
Try our incredibly soft T-shirts with round or V-necks, or as tank tops.
