Old Underpants: Evolution in History

Ancient underpants are a faithful reflection of history, not only in the field of fashion, but also give us an idea of what society was like at that time. Did you know that during Egyptian times only men wore underwear? This was made clear by the discovery of the first underpants in history, a linen garment worn by Tutankhamun's mummy. Let's take a trip back in time, exploring key moments in the history of men's underwear throughout different eras.

The first tests of old underwear

When the English Egyptologist Howard Carter entered tomb KV62 in the Valley of the Kings on 4 November 1922, the whole world held its breath in anticipation of a major archaeological discovery: the tomb of Emperor Tutankhamun . This turned out to be the best-preserved of those discovered to date, so much so that various pieces and garments from its funerary trousseau could even be seen . Among them, a surprise: linen diapers whose existence was previously known, but not proven. Carter was surely tempted to shout, "Here are the Emperor's underpants!" But he restrained himself given the solemnity of the moment. Perhaps he would have done so if he knew that on that day he was not only opening an ancient tomb, but also marking a milestone in the history of fashion. He had found the oldest underpants!

Underpants in Roman times and the Middle Ages

Although Tutankhamun takes the prize for the oldest underpants, the truth is that it wasn't until the rise of the Roman Empire that the custom of wearing underwear became widespread, thanks to Roman gladiators and their subligaculum . These were a type of diaper they wore for hygienic and protective reasons during their performances at the Coliseum. These garments were worn only by men and were direct descendants of similar ones used by Etruscan warriors . The Middle Ages saw the first steps of a small textile industry still based on hygiene . Its growth was notable in the wake of the Hundred Years' War and the unsanitary conditions caused by the Black Death epidemic. However, it was still focused on two things: the prominence of the male figure and the needs of the upper classes . So much so that richly ornamented garments made of more delicate fabrics were made for the upper social strata. Meanwhile, most people used coarser fabrics for their underwear. Both men and women wore long chemises that completely covered their bodies, as the sight of them was considered sinful. It was also quite common for men to wear long hose , the ancient underpants worn by medieval men.

The 19th century, the first boxers

After going through various phases and following the changing course of prevailing fashion trends throughout Europe, in the 19th century men wore long breeches under their street clothes to protect themselves from the cold and combat the spread of body odor. The star fabric for these early men's underpants was wool . This trend was championed by Dr. Jaeger, former professor of physiology at the University of Stuttgart and owner of the Jaeger company, which specialized in manufacturing wool garments. It wasn't until a little later, during the second decade of the last century , that this garment found its more summery version , even with short sleeves and legs. This invention eventually split into two pieces, giving rise to the undershirt and boxer shorts . These were so named because they were very similar to the briefs boxers wore in the ring. The popularity of this type of men's underwear reached its peak during the 1920s . At that time, advertising was just beginning to matter, and an advertisement featuring a movie star wearing boxer shorts and an undershirt was priceless. The economic crisis of 1929 gave a new twist to the design of underpants. In an effort to save money, long legs were cut down to the point of nonexistence. This was the origin of the brief . As you can see, although it's still very fashionable, it's one of the oldest underpants of the modern era. Later, World War II had a major impact on both the designs and the materials used in clothing. Sewing had to adapt to the shortage of fabrics, which were entirely dedicated to the war industry. This is yet another example of how the evolution of underwear paralleled social and environmental changes. The design of vintage boxer shorts has been the necessary foundation for enjoying the underwear we know today. More modern garments have opted for all kinds of fabrics and colors. Although traditional styles are always a safe bet when choosing everyday underwear.