The Evolution of Underwear

A brief history of underwear, from ancient loincloths to the modern golden age of (Awesome) undies | By Malikai Smith

Underwear, humanity, and technology. What's one thing they all have in common? You guessed it: evolution. Independently, yet side by side, this holy trinity has diverged, coalesced, and intermingled throughout time to culminate in this very moment. What a time to be alive.

I'll be the first to say that change can be scary, but as Father Time marches ever onward, you either get with the times or get left behind. Getting left behind isn't something the Awesome Undies Club does very well.

So let's take a moment to look back through the proverbial lens to see where we came from and how we ended up in the current golden age of undergarments we find ourselves in today. And be sure to check back next week for the follow-up: a prescient look toward the future of underwear. Underwear that makes you incredibly strong …? I'm spitballing.

Let's get back on track and start at the beginning.

The First Underwear

A quick Google search places the oldest preserved loincloth at around 7,000 years old. (Honestly, a real testament to the craftsmanship of that artisan.) Craftsmanship aside, if you subject yourself to that same Google search (don't), I think 9.9 out of 10 of you would choose a new pair of ultra-soft, UltraModal Awesome Undies before going to your local tanner for a leather loincloth.

Enter Linen

What follows leather loincloths in the long line of long johns and lingerie? Naturally, it's time for linen to make its debut. Any guesses where linen first hit the scene?

Unsurprisingly, pre-dynastic Egypt. Those guys loved being the first to do things. Which, to be fair, was a lot easier to do when you were doing things 6,400 years ago. But credit where credit is due. They broke the mold with linen undergarments, and we're all the better for it.

The Rise of Modern Undergarments

A simple blog post could never hope to thoroughly examine the shifts and changes spanning the better part of 10,000 years, so let's make a great generational leap forward to the late 1800s, when underwear as we know it started growing in popularity.

From prehistoric people in loincloths to innovators in Egypt, we've now arrived at garments that would be somewhat recognizable to our modern sensibilities.

In the late 1800s, linen was dominating the scene, undergarments were taking the form-fitting shapes we now know and love, and the Industrial Revolution meant these garments could be made quickly, consistently, and affordably. The stage was set.

From Then to Now

You don't need me to go into great detail about the rest. We've all seen the pictures: soldiers from the Civil War, flappers in the 1920s, men and women of the Greatest Generation on the beach in what looked more like dress suits than bathing suits.

Through the ages, underwear has lengthened and shortened. Billowed and flattened. Changed form and function, comfort and commonality.

The Golden Age of Underwear

So here we are. It's 2026, and with so many things that could be going so much better, at least we've got this.

We get to wake up and start our days in comfortable, flattering, supportive, and sustainable underwear. You could be rocking April's featured artist Julianne Griepp's Grey Hound Graffitis, or looking forward to seeing what Jordan Mitchell and May have in store for you.

One thing will be true either way: the Awesome Undies Club is the evolution the undies game has been waiting for. It's an Awesome Undies world now. We're just lucky enough to be living in it.