The Ever Growing Intimate Apparel Market

The worldwide undergarments industry comprises mainly of corsetry, hosiery and lingerie. Recently the intimate apparel, as they are commonly called, has changed from being just a necessity to recognized fashion apparel. This has paved way for designer undergarments market to grow sales too.

Corsets were originally used for giving an ideal shape to the torso; it also had some medical uses too. But, as undergarments became recognized as a proper fashion industry, this item also evolved and instead of using it as an under wear; people started using it as an outer wear. Keeping in mind the prime purpose of corsets, these are made of fabrics which have some elasticity like leather. They are congealed by stitching inserts within the fabric. However, the corsets used as outer wear hardly serve the original purpose; they are solely used as a fashionable outerwear. Plastic is also quite commonly used nowadays in constructing the corsets.

Hosiery, or leg wear, were made by knitting methods in earlier times. The modern legwear are usually made of flexible fabric to give a tight fitting. Different types of hosiery consist of hold ups, leggings, stockings, tube socks, tights, knee high and toe socks. Hosiery items are made from a range of fabrics depending upon the purpose they ought to serve; woolen socks and stockings are meant to keep the legs and feet warm, thin elastic stockings are worn to shape the legs. Tight stockings and knee high made from see through fabric are fashionable these days.

Lingerie forms a huge portion of the undergarments industry. The products included are bras, nighties, underwear for men and women and briefs. Lingerie too is used as outerwear, an as a result a huge variety of underpants and bras are available which encompasses laced panties and bras, brightly colored items, and highly fashionable products made of very fine fabric. Commonly used modern lingerie products are made of cotton, satin, polyester, nylon or silk. Modern lingerie items are developed to be “visually erotic.”

Because undergarments are now used as outerwear, a significant development has been seen in the industry; the global industry is worth more than $30 billion with bras taking up more than 50% of the total share. The main drivers of the market are comfort and innovative styles. Consumers are very particular about wearing comfortable fabrics that are trendy too, and for this reason the manufacturers are focusing on providing items which have novelty as well as high degree of comfort.

The designer undergarments market, and especially the designer lingerie market, is expected to show a boost as the trend of wearing lingerie as outerwear continues to persist. The designer lingerie is premium quality products made from fine fabric that is suitable to all skin types. They also feature latest designs and sensual styles. The most demanded items remain to be bras and panties. One of the reasons for this is that these items are not just a fashion mark, but a necessity too.

There are several vendors and retailers in the undergarments market that operate online too and one such retailer for men and women undergarments is Bare Necessities. Incorporated as Bare Web Inc., the company was founded in 1967 and is established in New Jersey. They shifted operations online in the year 1998 in order to facilitate their customers. The website features more than 150 brands for undergarments as well as other products like footwear, T-shirts, casual clothing, swimwear and other accessories. Designer lingerie brands like Bali, SpanX and Hanky Panky are also available.

Another retailer for consumer goods featuring undergarments for both men and women is the One Hanes Placeby Hanebrands Inc. The company is based in Winston-Salem, N.C and has a large variety in lingerie, casualwear, T-shirts, accessories and many other consumer goods. Some of the featured brands are Hanes, Bali, Champion, Just My Size and Playtex.

Consumers now look for lingerie products which can be used as daily wear. Comfort is the priority. This consumer inclination and increase in demand has made the industry to change significantly and it is expected that the market will keep on growing in the coming years.