Two graphic designers working in Poland’s burgeoning tech industry have taken “softwear” startups to the next level. Their unintentional product: Unerdwear, boxer shorts that unleash your true inner nerd. Kasia Bojanowska and Joanna Socha’s combined eye…
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More often than not, the key to surviving constant travel is packing as lightly as possible. And a simple way to do so is to cut down on the basics. Thanks to the anti-microbial and anti-odor properties…
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by Natasha Tauber Socks—an “oft overlooked garment,” Vivek Nagrani says—used to be a “definitive way to separate the gentleman from the man.” It was with that insight that 14 years ago Nagrani founded Ovdafut; reinventing men’s…
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When entering the Araks studio, you’re first greeted by their color library; a rainbow of fabric swatches and thread samples packed into an assortment of overflowing jars. It’s a display reminiscent of a technicolor candy store,…
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Advertorial Content: When we last caught up with Mack Weldon founder Brian Berger the brand’s impending launch took center stage, and they gave CH readers the first go at the new line of men’s…
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Advertorial content: Whether you prefer boxers to briefs, everyone can agree the most important qualification for whatever you wear down there is comfort. Plus, as an everyday essential, why would you settle for anything less than something supremely soft and supportive? Thanks to MeUndies you no longer have to. MeUndies’…
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Men’s basics done right
If you’re going to make a point to wear the finest selvedge denim money can buy, what’s the sense in neglecting the base layer underneath? Putting your underwear on their deserved pedestal is Mack Weldon, purveyor of premium underwear and undershirts, with socks coming soon. As a newcomer to the industry Mack Weldon remains uninhibited in their efforts to offer intelligently reengineered garments with a legitimate claim to improving fit and daily comfort in general.
After giving a full kit of Mack Weldon undergarments a proper trial—and being genuinely impressed—we’ve decided to team up with founder Brian Berger to give CH readers first access to their newly designed e-commerce site. This puts you alongside Mack Weldon’s short list of friends and family beta-testers for a chance to be the first to cop a feel.
Sticking to the men’s “essentials” category, which Berger defines as “items that make up the foundation of our wardrobe,” Mack Weldon hopes to establish a following by producing quality products rather than an over-the-top marketing image. At the forefront of this campaign is their redesigned undershirt. Available in either a crew or V-neck, each is specifically designed to be worn under a button-down with a considered fit that fits close to the body without being too snug. It features higher cut armholes to avoid bunching and a slightly longer body to avoid coming untucked, all constructed with a custom blend of fine cotton, performance-driven Lenzing Modal and Lycra they call 18-hour Jersey. Also featuring the signature fabric is their answer to the generic T-shirt—with anatomical stitching on the shoulder to prevent uncomfortable seams, this puppy is simply casual comfort.
As for underwear, Mack Weldon currently offers a boxer brief and shorter trunk-style short, with a full-on brief coming soon. Where most boxer briefs fail theirs succeeds with exaggerated leg length to prevent riding up, and strategically placed mesh to promote airflow. Plus, all Mack Weldon basics forego itchy tags by printing all relevant information directly on the fabric. As for the trunk, it’s essentially the same with just slightly less fabric.
To avoid the hassle of department store-shopping, Berger and his team have developed an innovative auto-replenishment model at the core of Mack Weldon, wherein customers can set up a recurring re-order at their desired frequency. The service will be introduced once the e-commerce site launches out of beta in Fall 2012.
Also set to be introduced down the line are two styles of men’s formal socks in a selection of eight colors. Available in bar stripe and drop needle rib, the cotton, spandex and elastic blend socks will feature an elongated fit to help them stay up and a seamless toe box for added comfort.
“We want to change the way guys think about their underwear,” says Berger. For exclusive access to Mack Weldon’s daily essentials visit the site, where the entire range sells for between $22-$32. Keep an eye out for the early August sock line release and the auto-replenishment option in the weeks following.
Show support for two new supportive undergarments
Kickstarter helps get an array of independent endeavors off the ground every day. While many of these entrepreneurial projects revolve around the arts, we recently found two creative minds using the funding platform to up the underwear game. Each with a different motive, both JoeyBra and Flint and Tinder aim to enhance our lives with a new take on the ubiquitous undergarment. Check out the “kickstapants” projects below.
A concept sure to be a hit among ladies who love to go out and dance or go for a run, the JoeyBra gives women the advantage of a hidden pocket in their bra. The small side compartments are big enough to fit an iPhone, but the elastic seams keep it all conveniently secure. The JoeyBra is the brainchild of two business students at the University of Washington who will use the funding to first create an adjustable sexy push-up style with a sports bra to follow.
Former FHM Magazine editor and Buckyballs founder Jake Bronstein would simply like to bring men’s underwear production back to the US. His idea is Flint and Tinder, a line of premium Supima cotton skivvies made in a family-run factory. Comfort and function are key components to the three styles in his collection, but another driving force is job creation—for every 1,000 pairs sold, one full-time job is generated.
Inside a swimsuit design studio in the heart of NYC’s garment district
“Save the Garment Center” urges the sign in the middle of swimsuit designer Malia Mills’ garment-district studio in New York City. Haphazardly stuck in one of the many racks of patterns that fill the workspace among rolls of fabric, sketches and other evidence of a busy design hub, the sign reads like a battle cry for the eponymous 20-year-old line. Mills, a poster child for what it means to live and work as a fashion designer in the city, built her brand over the decades through a combination of grit, ingenuity and her vision of making great-fitting suits for women.
The journey for Mills started unconventionally at Cornell University, where she studied apparel design, constructing everything from scuba suits to skirts. As a supplement to the problem-solving skills the program instilled, she learned the art of tailoring at Paris’ renowned school for haute couture, The Chambre Syndicale. Once landing in New York, a long road of alliances and luck helped get her where she is today. Landlords that let her go without paying rent for six months, the Tribeca restaurant where she waitressed that let her use their office, and a mentor in Theory founder Andrew Rosen all helped the business grow into the 10-store-strong label that it is today.
But of course the real backbone of Malia Mills is design. While education gave Mills the highly technical background needed for such a challenging garment, the founder traces her aesthetic to two pivotal childhood experiences with swimwear. Her first bikini, a lemon-yellow number received for Christmas in 1976, followed by a hot pink two-piece that stood out among the Speedos of 1980, helped define a look for women that’s as much about style as it is about function.
The sensibility has to do with the kind of thoughtfulness that goes into good design. On our recent visit, the designer jumped up to pull out a college assignment on fashion designer Claire McCardell, who Mills cites as a huge influence on her approach. McCardell’s philosophy of “honing your senses” is advice Mills still gives to every new hire.
To pull it all off, Mills credits the “massive luxury” of being in the Garment Center as a key factor that “truly facilitated the growth of the business.” Her tops-by-bra-size approach and goal of fitting almost every body type means she has to be completely hands-on throughout the entire production process. “What we’re making is such a tactile thing,” she explains. Even the smallest discrepancy in yardage can make a huge difference in fit.
See more of the designer’s early stylings, current collection, and more in the photo gallery.
by Karen Day and Ami Kealoha
Photos by Karen Day
Literally underdress better this summer with a collaborative collection of breezy underthings
When summer hits, it’s normal to change up your wardrobe to account for the warm weather but rarely do we change what we wear beneath our clothes. Teaming up with the bi-annual gentleman’s style journal, Fantastic Man, Swedish underwear brand The White Briefs has created a collection of mesh underwear better suited to warmer climes.
“The briefs, vest and t-shirt are all made from lovely organic cotton,” says The White Briefs’ creative director Peter Simonsson. With underwear being the item of clothing closest to your skin, specification of the mesh itself was crucial to the success of the project.
The cut and fit of the three pieces were also a chief concern. Rather than restricting the wearer, the pieces follow the natural line of the body, complementing movements. The briefs feature a boxy, high-waisted cut with a double-layer of mesh in the crotch for a little added support, while the vest arches across the chest to curve pleasingly around the armpit. Even the t-shirt gets a little added attention on the cutting board, with arms nestling midway down the bicep while the high neck draws the attention up to the face.
“It feels deliciously light. Since you are literally wearing half the amount of fabric you would normally wear, it’s almost like being naked,” attests Fantastic Man editor Jop van Bennekom.
The collection sells online with prices pitched between €35-60. With strong consideration behind each item, it’s a perfectly executed collaboration for the summer season.
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