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Trend Watch: Hot Fundoshi Underpants
13 Jun 2008 Category: Fashion, Japan
For traditional Japanese men, fundoshi is THE underwear of choice at summer! We'll reveal you a bit about the currently popular traditional underpants movement! Photo by Wikipedia
Psst, fashion watch, fundoshi have become the hot shit in Japan recently! No wonder, since this Japanese tied underwear for men is being rediscovered for its comfort. Generally, we would associate fundoshi with traditional pants or the formal attire for Shinto festival. However nowadays, there are all kinds of fun variations for men and women — and its sales are soaring! PingMag will introduce to you a fine selection that still leaves modern-day Japanese in awe.
Written by Ayana
Translated by Natsumi Yamane
Heritage
During the Sengoku period, fundoshi used to be a piece of military clothing only worn by the samurai class, but since the Edo period, fundoshi also became widespread among commoners and various historical sources confirm that it established itself as the standard male tied underwear. With the wave of Westernisation after World War II, however, fundoshi gradually went out of fashion to be taken over by western underwear. Beware of the boxers invasion…
Religious rave! Men dressed in fundoshi at a Shinto festival in Kanda, Tokyo. Usually it's underwear — but it turns into a formal attire on festive occasions.
Media Buzz
But! Since a TV programme reported that the Mitsukoshi department store was selling fundoshi as "Classic Pants" several years ago, the sales of fundoshi began to rocket. Apparently every year around June, Mitsukoshi's fundoshi range at their men's underwear department expands to go with the summer yukata season.
Mr. Kanagi from Mitsukoshi men's underwear department in Ginza explains,
"We used to sell around 500 pieces every year, but since it got the media attention, the sales have doubled and we have already sold the same number in the first half of this year alone. The variety of colours and patterned designs have increased after it was shown on TV and we now even sell a line made from silk for people with delicate skin.
For the older customers who habitually wear fundoshi, the standard red or white ones are the most popular. However recently, younger customers started giving patterned fundoshi as a Valentine's Day gift, as this underwear is basically one-size-fits-all and it can be worn by both men and women. Because it is comfortable to wear with no tightness of elastics or uncomfortable creases, ladies who prefer natural styles seem to find its wearability attractive."
During the summer yukata season, many mannequin bodies wearing fundoshi can be found at the Mitsukoshi store.
Mitsukoshi's original selection of classic fundoshi with a wide variety of colours.
Patterned classic fundoshi pants come in a slightly different packaging.
Variety
Note: Fundoshi comes in five or six prominent styles with different shapes and ways of tying and the "Ecchu Fundoshi" is the popular type that is commonly worn at festivals and other formal occasions.
An underwear cloth to be tied from "Edoten" online: This style is called the "Ecchu Fundoshi."
Another product to be tied as underwear from online store "Edoten."
Apart from specialist stores, fundoshi underwear is surely also available online where you can easily find some with modern designs. For example, the online store Edoten offers a wide selection of modernised and unique traditional pants.
After the Punk yukata, here come Nu Rave fundoshi from Edoten: A diverse selection of designs including Japanese sprites, kappa, white skulls on blue — and leopard prints!
A popular design of a carp print, also from "Edoten."
Another fast-selling motif of a dragon, from "Edoten."
Celebrity Gossip
Since actress Saya Takagi revealed on a TV programme in February that she habitually wore one, attention has also been focusing on the ladies' fundoshi! At the online store Love Supplement, their sales increased tenfold, twentyfold, since they started selling ladies' fundoshi under the name of "Pendre Shorts." We asked Ms. Karukaya from Love Supplement about the buzz:
"These days, perhaps because of the influence of nature-oriented Saya Takagi, 'Pendre Shorts' made from natural fabric are popular. We have a line that is made using the highest quality organic cotton and they are one of our best-selling products."
So, people have been also conscious of the materials that fundoshi is made from: At Love Supplement, they offer ladies' fundoshi that use a special fabric called ferrite fibre sewn into it that emits far-infrared rays to improve the human body vibrations and relieve various of specifically womens' health problems. Who knew!
From Love Supplement: A ladies' fundoshi made from organic materials.
Also from Love Supplement: Another funky design printed with Ukiyo-e patterns.
From Love Supplement: Japanese cute little cherry blossoms resembling kimono patterns…
… and even a Hawaiian print! Summer! Also from Love Supplement.
Lastly: The How-to Knot
Briefly, we show you how to tie a fundoshi. No worries! Though it might look complicated at first, it's actually quite easy. More help needed? Watch a clip over here. Photo courtesy of Love Supplement
Comfy Attractions
Those legs! A man in fundoshi at a festival in Kanda, Tokyo.
Now, once again, why has fundoshi become so popular? The greatest advantage is probably its comfort. With a fundoshi, there is no tightness that you would get from elasticised underpants and it almost feels as if you aren't wearing it at all. That, no doubt, makes it comfortable to wear even during the oh so hot and humid Japanese summer. A fundoshi pant made from hemp is particularly breathable and dries fast so there is no need to keep many of them either. Also, as fundoshi is made simply by sewing a piece of cloth on to a string, more and more people are starting to make their own unique underwear. With the humidity already coming up this summer, let's see if this boom will outlive the season.
Come on and give it a try! You'll never wear something else once you tried a comfy fundoshi! Thanks to everyone who helped with this article.
22 comments:
That is the most unbelievable thing I have ever seen. A blog for loin cloth....You must be kidding me...I don't know if this is use/misuse of the internet....lolzzzz.
misuse of the internet? I think your ideas of misuse are unusual. Or you are joiking. Is there any pornography here or dirty pictures. I do not like to comment strongly about reader's posts but I am forced to do so in this case. I am only trying to say something useful and relevant about a traditional practical safe and comfortable article of clothing which lakhs of people in India are still using. And our forefathers used it in almost all cases. What is your problem? Crotchstrap.
very interesting site indeed!!
Once when i was kid i use to wear kovanam or kaupeenam whilst in vedic school and then change to langoti when I was in varanasi.
but now can't be bothered to hunt or look for those garments here in foreign land and just adhere the conventional garments but I still remember my grandpa and also my padashala guru advise us about kaupeenam and the adhi sankara's sthothram and smearing sandal paste.
I had proper ubhanayanam with kaupeenam, krishnajeenam, palasa dhandam, maunji suuthram ..etc not like today mostly ignored.
There is one practical problem with those two undergarments: during urgency or if u r bursting for nature call: number one, kaupeenam would be little easier but with langoti u will have hell of stress and extremely u have to remain control the pressure of the urge whilst u r undoing the straps.
with conventional garments it isn't the case. but i still wear it during the vrata sessions(dhanurmaasam-29days) being little discipline and culture adherence
nevertheless whether it is traditional kovanam/komanam/kaupeenam/langoti or the western conventional under garments...technically it is all the same just different in name as per the language as it met the vedic/aagama requirement that men or women should wear atleast kaupinaam to cover the gender identities, and it is a must to wear a three piece garments when u r affordable ( kaupinaam-undergarment, vesthi/dhothi-overgarment, arai kacham/kadi vasthram-belt garment)
note: breast is note considered as private or restricted gender identity as such there isn't any strict bra garments but later been fashioned in the culture, my great grandmother was in her nine yard sari without blouse or bra.
during the navasandhi rituals in temple bhrmautsavam or mahotsavam the grandeur annual temple or village festival the nine devatas are invited with a nine typical tune(raaga), beat(thaala), edibles(annam/nyvehthyam), fragrance(vaasanaathi dravyam), nine type of dhuupam (akhil, sambraani, kukulu, kungilyam, kunturukam,...),flowers and nine coloured kaupinaam, nine type of dance choreograph by the tempel devaadiyaals/devadaasi which various to each nine deity (indra, anala, yama, nyrithi, varuna, vaayu, kubera, eesaana, bhrama)
eg. for bhrama it would be white kaupinam and mdhyamaathi raagam, bhrama thaalam(kanda jathi druva thaalam) which i still remember.
the langoti indeed was a useful garment for physical training or exercise was been useful during our kalaripayat/silambam trainings served as the athlete supporter(jockstrap) which gives extra support and comfort and release the stress around crotch/groin regions during the excessive movements.
kovanam culture is fading from the society due to intoxication of western culture or maybe comfortable with easier and less stressful norms lifestyles or perhaps inferiority or non availability of the product in a commercial arena or even in local markets.
probably if u were to start a business or websites selling those garments then ..u might observe whether is still a demand in market or not...lol
nice post. i love it
I wear komanam ocassionally.The habit has been with me since my school days when my friends asked me to wear the same during bathing. Now when I do wear the same my wife laugh at me and tease me. My friends look at me as if i have comitted big sin. I do not know what to tell them in such situations. Can any one help me to handle such situations.
it indeed is very strange. I have been coming to India for 12 years and have seen the proliferation of western culture and clothing tear apart the very thing that makes India, India. Why on earth would you want to be like us? Why on earth would you want to wear underware with elastic that is so uncomfortable..........but it has a logo. Maybe someone should design a Kovanam with a logo band and it would all of a sudden become quite shiek to wear one.
though i was wearing komanam upto my marriage i stopped lest my educated wife ridicule me.
one rainy season there was not a single brief or panty and we had to go to office.
to my surprise my wife stitched a komanam and wore it.
i took a piece of mull cloth two fold and i already had araigan kayaru so komanam was not a problem
as usual we wnt to our respective offices in pant chudithar etc.
that evening when we undressed it was a joy to see both of us in sexy komanam.(we played the whole night)
from next day till date our undergarment is komanam only.
we sleep with komanam only.
every couple should start wearing komanam only to experience the joy
It's great. I appreciate the blogger.
I would like to refer you another blog for Keralite undergarments like onnara and konakam.
http://antareeyam.blogspot.com
I was really intrigued to find this blog. so much so that I have planned a short film/documentary featuring the langot/kaupinam. We plan to take interviews of people in health and fitness (doctors, martial artists, yoga instructors) to fashion (designers, tailors). I emailed 'crotchstrap' but have not received a reply. I am hoping I will.
@trivikraman @balu I would be also interested in talking to both of you and filming you if you are interested, on your views about this. contact me at kDOTaDOTanandATgmailDOTcom plz replace DOT with .
I appreciate the efforts. Just a question - why did you stop?
Traditional garment used by Hindu people of India and Sri Lanka long before briefs and trunks from United States and Europe became a popular culture in TV films comics animation and media throughout the world.
The traditional garment worn by Hindu religious leader civil rights advocate dissident spiritual adviser & martyr Dr. Mahatma Gandhi.
Indian version of loincloth used by Indians and Sri Lanka citizens became popular throughout the world.
Langot/kaupinam Indian version of loincloth used in India and Sri Lanka.
Indian version of Fundoshi used by men & boys of India and Sri Lanka.
Langot and kaupinam becomes a swimwear used by Hindu religious baptismal in India.
Indian version of Fundoshi used by men and boys resembled a loincloth long before briefs and trunks from United States and Europe became a popular culture in TV films comics animation and media throughout the world.
Mowgli a fictional character wears kaupinam/langot the national attire of India and Sri Lanka.
Kaupinam/Langot the national attire of India and Sri Lanka long before briefs and trunks from United States and Europe became a popular culture in TV films comics animation and media throughout the world.
Kaupinam/Langot the national attire of India and Sri Lanka long before briefs and trunks from United States and Europe became a popular culture in TV films comics animation and media throughout the world.
Kaupinam/Langot symbol of India and Sri Lanka the masculine loincloth for men and boys.
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