Understanding Underwear: Making the Right Choice When Buying and Caring for Undergarments

Increased disposable income has meant undergarments are no longer ‘unmentionable’ and consumers now want underwear that displays personality and attitude. In addition, they often look for additional features – for example, a thermal barrier or the strength to shape, support or conceal the human form.

Greater demands and increased comfort can mean less hard-wearing materials are used in the manufacture of underwear. Without the right knowledge, therefore, consumers can end up damaging their underwear during normal laundry processes. To correct this, it is important for customers to understand what makes their garments and how to correctly care for them.

Gender and function both affect the design of underwear – females wear lingerie, bras and pants, and men wear briefs and shorts. Both genders wear t-shirts, tank tops, long johns and specialty undergarments.

Since it is now acceptable for these items to be visible, the range of materials employed in their manufacture has now greatly increased. Cotton remains the most popular fiber because it is soft, absorbent, affordable and skin-friendly. Silk is also popular for its skin-friendliness and smoothness, but it is expensive. Rayon, polyester, nylon and Spandex, are now being joined by other emerging fibers, for example those made from milk, soybean and bamboo. In addition, the final design may also be accessorized with ribbons, lace, embroidery, cord, beads and feathers. The general advice for consumers when buying new underwear is that, whatever the outer layers may be made from, the inner layer should always be made from skin friendly fibers such as cotton and rayon.

Increasing demands for fashion and functions have also led to the introduction of new fibers and more ergonomic designs. Cutting-edge technology is used to create comfort and body-shaping using elastic fibers or ribbons into material mixes. For example, Spandex is now widely used to improve the freedom of movement and shape the body, and, in percentages greater than 10%, it also has the benefit of ensuring an authentic second-skin feel.

The introduction of new material Lyocell, for example the brands TENCEL™ Modal and TENCEL™ Lyocell, means manufacturers can now create undergarments with enhanced comfort, drape, luster, and luxurious hand feel. It is a regenerated cellulosic fiber that shares similar properties to cotton and rayon but possesses a more silk-like hand feel and luster. It is also believed, Lyocell is more environmentally-friendly than rayon because the solvent employed in its manufacturing is almost totally recycled and reused during production.

SGS experts are, however, keen for consumers to understand that ‘made from bamboo fiber’ does not necessarily mean more environmentally-friendly. Under the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act and the Textile Fiber Rule of the Federal Trade Commission, textiles can only be called made from bamboo if they are made directly from actual bamboo fiber and these products are rare in general apparel market. In fact, most commonly found so-called “bamboo fiber” on the market is nothing else but rayon that was created using bamboo as a plant source to produce rayon. This is a reminder to consumers to always check the fiber content label to ensure they know what they are buying and avoid being mystified by marketing gimmicks.

In addition to new materials, consumers also need to be aware of the development of underwear that fulfils more than one function, for example ‘leisurée’. This is a combination of athleisure wear and lingerie that combines the best elements of high-style, comfort and function in both categories, and creates clothing that can be used in both the office and the gym. Consumer demands have led to the development of underwear that can control odor and provide nutrient and moisture enrichment for the wearer. These items are further examples of how the undergarment market has changed in recent years as consumers begin to demand fashionable and functional items.

The plethora of underwear options on the market mean caring for your undergarments is no longer a simple task. Many items of clothing now require special care instructions to protect them from the cycle of washing and wearing. The advice for consumers is to always carefully follow the care label.

For manufacturers, it is vital that they test functional fabrics in order to validate those claims. Performance tests do exist, but they are voluntary and the only formal testing often undertaken is product standard testing. This can mean ambiguity for the consumer when they read the label. Instead, consumers are advised to always look for accredited third-party testing in their underwear in order to ensure functionality. Companies like SGS maintain dedicated performance and function testing laboratories for textiles in all corners of the globe. Their specially developed in-house testing procedures cover a wide-range of claims, including comfort, sock and garment compression, cooling effect, and thermal property. If customers see evidence of SGS testing their underwear, they can be assured the product has been rigorously examined to ensure it conforms to all claims. For manufacturers, they can be assured their products are fit for purpose, giving them peace-of-mind when their products enter the marketplace.

SGS Softlines Services
SGS has a worldwide network of over 40 state-of-the-art laboratories specializing in testing for softlines. Their committed team is drawn from multi-disciplinary backgrounds, allowing them to carry out a comprehensive range of physical, chemical and functional testing services for components, materials and finished products. SGS helps companies ensure quality, performance and compliance with international, industrial and regulatory standards worldwide. Learn more about SGS’s Softlines Services. [www.sgs.com/softlines]

For more information, please contact:

Min Zhu
US and Canada Softlines Technical Director
SGS North America, Inc.
Email: crs.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/softlines

About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 95,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,400 offices and laboratories around the world.

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This release was published on openPR.