The brochure illustrated four men’s Adidas boxer shorts on sale for $22.99.
Sounded great. Last time I bought my favourite Joe Boxers the tab was $48.
Off we went to this wholesale outlet in search of shorts and other bargains in this inflation-infested world.
In the long aisle displaying men’s briefs was a rack with Joe Boxer shorts — four for $19.99. A bargain I snapped up.
The Adidas shorts were down the aisle and I looked the package over carefully. Seemed like a nice fit and another bargain.
I bought them. Adidas is a well-known, highly rated quality brand name, even though it is best known for footwear.
The next day I decided to wear my new Adidas boxers.
In time nature called and I headed for the bathroom.
Fumbling around there was no fly in these boxers.
Had I stupidly put them on backwards?
Nope. No fly on the back side.
The call of nature was getting more urgent so I partially undressed to do the duty.
Was this no-fly pair a sole mistake?
Heading for the shorts drawer the examination revealed none of the other three boxers had a fly.
Now I am left with pulling my pants down, or cutting a hole for a fly and hoping the fabric doesn’t deteriorate from successive washing.
The whole shorts experience got me wondering when men started to wear under garments and why.
A little research came up with the following fun facts.
The purpose of men’s underwear is to prevent chafing from clothes and to prevent soiling of outer garments.
The global market for men’s underwear was $8 billion in 2014 and by 2020 had reached $12 billion with designs of new stylish skivvies.
The oldest known pair of men briefs dates back to 5,000 BC and was a leather-cloth loin guard wrapped around the waist. Presumably it protected sensitive parts of the body from thorns, bushes, poison ivy and insects.
The Egyptian pharaohs and their subjects wore briefs.
King Tutankhamun’s tomb had 145 pair. They were quality made with 200 threads compared with 50 threads for common folk.
In the Middle Ages a calf length brief called a braie was popular.
In the 1800s makers designed underwear with buttons or flaps in front for easier access.
Realizing Adidas is a German company one wonders if the Germans are still in the Middle Ages shorts-wise.
The jock strap was invented in 1874 to stop chafing when cycling.
And in the 1800s professional boxers began wearing loose fitting longer legged shorts, giving today’s boxer shorts their name.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
