BVD is a brand of men's underwear, which are commonly referred to as "BVDs". The brand was founded in 1876 and named after the three founders of the New York City firm: (Joseph W.) Bradley, (Luther C.) Voorhees, and (Lyman H.) Day (thus "B.V.D.").[1][2] The BVD brand, originally produced for men and women, in the United States is now produced solely for men by Fruit of the Loom. The BVD brand is also sold in Japan.[3][4]
BVD first manufactured bustles for women. They then became famous for their men's union suits made of heavy knittedfabric. In 1908, that bulky and tight-fitting garment was turned into a new kind of loose-fitting underwear. They went on to introduce a two-piece and the popular union suit[5][2] as well as a lightweight waffle-like fabric with the advertising slogan, "Next to Myself I Like BVD Best".[1]
At the beginning of the 1930s, BVD was purchased by the Atlas Underwear company of Piqua, Ohio. During the Great Depression, they were successful in manufacturing swimsuits for men, women and children. They patented their own fabric, Sea Satin, a rayon woven satin backed with latex for stretch.[6][7] They also used knits of cotton, wool and rayon, and cellophane. Their swimsuits featured in major fashion magazines and high-fashion stores. Styles included form-fitting maillots as well as full-skirted swimsuits. They offered suits for men with detachable tops. In 1929, OlympicswimmerJohnny Weissmuller, who went on to become the most famous Tarzan in motion pictures, was hired as a model and representative. He was featured at swim shows throughout the country wearing the BVD brand of swimsuits, handing out leaflets and giving autographs.[8][9]
In 1951, the brand was purchased by Superior Mills. BVD was first to start packaging underwear in plastic bags for the mass market. In the 1960s and 1970s, they started introducing sportops, a pocket T-shirt, and fashionable underwear made of nylon.[citation needed] In 1976, BVD was purchased by Fruit of the Loom. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1999 and was purchased by Berkshire Hathaway in 2001.[10]
In other languages
In certain dialects[which?] of Spanish, the term bibidí, pronounced like the English initials, is an eponym for a man's sleeveless underwear T-shirt.[11][12]
In popular culture
The 1923 jazz song “Hula Lou” by Jack Yellen, Milton Charles and Wayne King features the lyric: “I'm Hula Lou. I'm the gal that can't be true. I do my nestin' in the evenin' breeze 'Neath the trees You oughta see me shake my BVDs.” [13]
The 1924 song "Hard Hearted Hannah (The Vamp of Savannah)" includes the lyrics: "An evening with Hannah sitting on your knees / Is like traveling through Alaska in your BVDs"
1931 film CHARLIE CHAN CARRIES ON. It's suggested that Charlie Chan buy himself a pair of iron underwear, BVD's.
In the 1960s and 70s, in the area around Woonsocket, Rhode Island, (which was part of the Blackstone Valley), BVDs were sometimes affectionately called "Blackstone Valley Duds."
In the 1963 Disney film The Sword in the Stone, the wizard Merlin can be seen wearing a pair of pink BVD underwear beneath his robe (around 15:42 run-time).
In the 1969 novelty song Gitarzan by artist Ray Stevens references the "Gitarzan" character as "As he swings through trees without a trapeeze, in his BVD's ..."[14]
In the 1926 song "Coney Island Washboard" (Lyrics added at an unknown time, at least prior to 1978)[15] one of the lyrics reads "She could rag a tune right through the knees of a brand new pair of B.V.D.'s on her Coney Island washboard roundelay."[16]
"And as sure as Santa Claus wears red BVDs, I know somebody will have an alibi you can't break with a sledgehammer." - Columbo (1990) s09e04 "Rest in Peace, Mrs. Columbo", timestamp: 46:54 - https://archive.org/details/9.4RestInPeaceMrsColumbo
In the 1993 novel Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg, the main character, a butch lesbian, is described to be wearing BVDs. "You laid out a pair of fresh white BVDs and a T-shirt for me and left me alone to wash off the first layer of shame."
"You think that would put my piretical BVDs in a twist..." -Blackstache, in Peter and the Starcatcher Scene 6
In the Bob Rivers novelty Christmas song "Didn't I Get This Last Year?," a man complains about having received "some socks, some socks and some tiny BVDs" from his Aunt Louise for Christmas, which he can't get up past his knees, and asks her to return them.
The 1928 song "Nagasaki" by Harry Warren and Mort Dixon Nagasaki_(song) includes the lyrics: "Those torrid teases / In B.V.D.ses / Heaven help a sailor on a night like this!"
A bikini is a two-piece swimsuit primarily worn by women that features one piece on top that covers the breasts, and a second piece on the bottom: the front covering the pelvis but usually exposing the navel, and the back generally covering the intergluteal cleft and some or all of the buttocks. The size of the top and bottom can vary, from bikinis that offer full coverage of the breasts, pelvis, and buttocks, to more revealing designs with a thong or G-string bottom that covers only the mons pubis, but exposes the buttocks, and a top that covers only the areolae. Bikini bottoms covering about half the buttocks may be described as "Brazilian-cut".
Lingerie is a category of primarily women's clothing including undergarments, sleepwear, and lightweight robes. The choice of the word is often motivated by an intention to imply that the garments are alluring, fashionable, or both. In a 2015 US survey, 75% of women reported having worn "sexy lingerie" in their lifetime.
A leotard is a unisex skin-tight one-piece garment that covers the torso from the crotch to the shoulder. The garment was made famous by the French acrobatic performer Jules Léotard (1838–1870). There are sleeveless, short-sleeved, and long-sleeved leotards. A variation is the unitard, which also covers the legs. It provides a degree of modesty and style while allowing for freedom of movement.
Pantyhose, sometimes also called sheer tights, are close-fitting legwear covering the wearer's body from the waist to the toes. Pantyhose first appeared on store shelves in 1959 for the advertisement of new design panties as a convenient alternative to stockings and/or control panties which, in turn, replaced girdles.
A swimsuit is an item of clothing designed to be worn by people engaging in a water-based activity or water sports, such as swimming, diving and surfing, or sun-orientated activities, such as sun bathing. Different types may be worn by men, women, and children. A swimsuit can be described by various names, some of which are used only in particular locations or for particular types of suit, including swimwear, bathing suit, bathing attire, swimming costume, bathing costume, swimming suit, swimmers, swimming togs, bathers, cossie, or swimming trunks, besides others.
A bodysuit is a one-piece form-fitting or skin-tight garment that covers the torso and the crotch. The design of a basic bodysuit is similar to a one-piece swimsuit and a leotard, though the materials may vary. Thong or T-front thong bodysuits usually have the crotch opening moved up to the front to underbelly area to increase the wearer's comfort. A bodysuit may have sleeves and varying shoulder strap and collar. Bodysuits can be made from a number of fabrics, including cotton, lace, nylon, etc. In general, textile bodysuits include expandable fiber such as spandex for a better fit to the shape of the body.
A jockstrap, also a jock (male), jill (female), strap, cup, groin guard, pelvic protector (female), supporter, or athletic supporter, is an undergarment for protecting the scrotum and penis or vulva during contact sports or other vigorous physical activity. This article deals chiefly with the genital protective sports gear designed for the male body, colloquially known as a "jock".
The muumuu or muʻumuʻu is a loose dress of Hawaiian origin. Within the category of fashion known as aloha wear, the muumuu, like the aloha shirt, are often brilliantly colored with floral patterns of Polynesian motifs. In Hawaiʻi, muumuus are no longer as widely worn as an aloha shirt, but continue to be a popular dress for social gatherings, church, and festivals such as the Merrie Monarch hula competition.
Fruit of the Loom is an American company that manufactures clothing, particularly casual wear and underwear. The company's world headquarters is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Since 2002, it has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.
Boardshorts are a type of swimwear and casual wear in the form of long loose-fitting shorts that are designed to be quick-drying and are generally made from strong and smooth polyester or nylon material. Originally known as surf trunks, later as Jams, and occasionally in British English as swim shorts, boardshorts are a style of male and, more recently, female summerwear.
Competitive swimwear refers to the swimsuit, clothing, equipment, and accessories used in the aquatic sports of swimming, diving, artistic swimming, triathlon, and water polo.
Gingham, also called Vichy check, is a medium-weight balanced plain-woven fabric typically with tartan (plaid), striped, or check duotone patterns, in bright colour and in white made from dyed cotton or cotton-blend yarns. It is made of carded, medium or fine yarns.
A teddy, also called a camiknicker, is a garment which covers the torso and crotch in the one garment. It is a similar style of garment to a one-piece swimsuit or bodysuit, but is typically looser and sheerer. The garment is put on by stepping into the leg holes and pulling the garment up to cover the torso. It may cover the whole of the torso or partially and may also cover the arms. They may open at the crotch so that the wearer may use the bathroom without taking it completely off. As an undergarment, it combines the functions of a camisole and panties, and may be preferred to avoid a visible panty line. It is also found as lingerie.
Briefs are a type of short, form-fitting underwear and swimwear, as opposed to styles where material extends down the thighs. Briefs have various different styles, usually with a waistband attached to fabric that runs along the pelvis to the crotch and buttocks, and are worn by both men and women. Swim briefs are a variation used as swimwear.
Underwear, underclothing, or undergarments are items of clothing worn beneath outer clothes, usually in direct contact with the skin, although they may comprise more than a single layer. They serve to keep outer clothing from being soiled or damaged by bodily excretions, to lessen the friction of outerwear against the skin, to shape the body, and to provide concealment or support for parts of it. In cold weather, long underwear is sometimes worn to provide additional warmth. Special types of undergarments have religious significance. Some items of clothing are designed as undergarments, while others, such as T-shirts and certain types of shorts, are appropriate both as underwear and outerwear. If made of suitable material or textile, some underwear can serve as nightwear or swimwear, and some undergarments are intended for sexual attraction or visual appeal.
The thong is a garment generally used as either underwear or in some countries, as a swimsuit. It may also be worn for traditional ceremonies or competitions.
Wearing underwear as outerwear is a fashion trend popularized by celebrities, sports and media. It began as a practical and comfortable variation of clothing, such as the T-shirt and the sleeveless shirt, but later evolved into provocative, controversial fashion statements. 21st century versions include the display of thongs and bras in women's clothing, and the display of underpants under low-slung pants in men. Wearing underwear as outerwear has historical antecedents in the display of undergarments in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
The history of swimwear traces the changes in the styles of men's and women's swimwear over time and between cultures, and touches on the social, religious and legal attitudes to swimming and swimwear.
Ethika is an American men's and women's underwear company founded in 2001 by Malcolm McCassy, Travis Pastrana, and professional skateboarder Ryan Sheckler. The company is based in San Clemente, California and has produced a longer fitting boxer brief, which they refer to as "The Staple." In 2015, the company expanded its product offering, launching multiple new products for men, women and children.
Sunspel is an English luxury clothing brand, founded in England in 1860. The brand is best known for boxer shorts, T-shirts and polo shirts. It is based in Long Eaton, near Nottingham, where it has its own factory.
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