Luxury Underwear Brands That Are Anything But Pants
Don't neglect what's underneath. We go under the hood to showcase the brands making the finest quality men's underwear in 2023.
Don't neglect what's underneath. We go under the hood to showcase the brands making the finest quality men's underwear in 2023.
It’s fair to say that Swedish underwear specialist CDLP changed the game when it launched in 2016. Founded by Christian Larson and Andreas Palm, the entrepreneurial pair saw a massive opportunity in an underwear sector that was dominated by a few fashion labels producing average quality boxer briefs.
CDLP brought a completely new luxury approach to the market, specialising in lyocell fabric, which is derived from wood pulp. This sustainable approach, combined with a focus on minimalistic styling and ergonomic, anti-chafing seam construction, instantly sent CDLP to the top table of underwear makers, a seat it has retained ever since.
Producing boxer briefs, trunks, classic boxers and a performance specific collection, CDLP’s products are just about the best that money can buy.
Ever since 1860, there’s been nothing basic about Sunspel’s basics. The British label is renowned for crafting menswear essentials from the finest and softest cottons.
Underwear has been part of the collection since the beginning but it was in 1947 when the founder’s grandson, John Hill, introduced the boxer short to the UK. Sunspel has been crafting the great British boxer to Hill’s specifications ever since, with subtle touches like feldlocked, double-turned seams ensuring maximum softness against the skin.
The brand also creates briefs and trunks, with lightweight stretch cotton and considered fits guaranteeing all-day comfort.
Zegna started life as a fabric mill in northern Italy in the early 1900s. Its founder and the generations of the Zegna family who have steered the label in the years since have all been fixated on one thing above all: incredible fabrics woven into luxurious clothing.
The Zegna name is still a byword for Italian luxury today, and beyond its high-end tailoring, sportswear and knits, the brand’s underwear maintains its lofty standards. Think soft and breathable cotton boxer shorts and sporty trunks with extra stretch for comfort in movement.
Yes, it’s a luxury shirtmaker first and foremost, but Turnbull & Asser have long used their expertise in fit and fabrics to create high quality underwear, too. The label, founded in 1885, is based on London’s famous Jermyn Street and has the Royal Warrant to go with it.
All of the brand’s boxer shorts are hand-made in England, usually from lightweight cotton to maximise comfort and breathability. The collection mirrors Turnbull’s shirting with a broad collection of colours, stripes and checks on offer, while mother-of-pearl buttons add a premium finish.
Zimmerli of Switzerland was was founded in 1871 by Pauline Zimmerli Bäurlin. It started life as a small, independent sock producer, but since then it has evolved to become one of the preeminent luxury underwear brands in the world.
Zimmerli is renowned for its minimalist handmade designs, which are constructed from fine fabrics such as Sea Island cotton from Barbados, stretch micromodal and classic cotton jersey.
The construction is meticulous, as you would expect from handsewn garments, while the aesthetic is understated, with white-and-black briefs and boxers making up the mainstay of the collection.
This is underwear that boasts assured comfort and doesn’t feel the need to be embellished with gaudy designs or pretentious branding. All very Swiss, you might say.
Founded in 1875 by Jacques Schiesser, this German underwear specialist has kept a relatively low-profile outside of its home country, which clearly didn’t want to share the spoils.
Schiesser looks to use organic cotton wherever possible, instantly improving the sustainability credentials versus its global contempories. It also incorporates laser technology to create completely seamless cotton underwear that it blends with spandex so it fits like a second skin and is practically invisible to see through your clothing.
While it might not pitch itself as a luxury brand, Schiesser certainly goes above and beyond most designer underwear makers, providing excellent value for money.
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