Society Men's lace underwear gains popularity in Japan

I am not sure I will ever trade my Uniqlo boxer shorts for laces, but there seems to be a new trend among young, fashion-conscious Japanese men.

All-lace underwear for men that is both glamorous and comfortable to wear is gradually gaining popularity in Japan for being stylish and an item to boost one's mood. With support from male users, undergarment designs are also apparently becoming gender-neutral here.

In 2021, apparel giant Wacoal Corp. sold boxer shorts made of lace for 3,960 JPY (roughly USD 27) a piece. Over roughly three months, the volume planned was sold out in just ten days. The number of lace boxers sold during the spring and summer seasons in 2023 was about 3.7 times that of the same period the previous year, making it an exceptional hit and the top-selling item among the company's men's underwear brands. In response to the strong demand, the company introduced brief pants made of the same material this September for 3,630 JPY (approx. USD 24) each. The product has been selling well -- around 1.3 times the amount Wacoal had planned to retail in the first month of release.

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Wacoal's lace is made of an original material that is soft against the skin, stretchable and has increased fabric strength. The design was made with something men can easily try on in mind and resulted in a combination of floral and geometric patterns that are not too feminine. While the undergarments come in basic colours such as black, navy blue and red, which are easy to use, gorgeous colours such as purple and pink are also available for the boxer pants, allowing customers to choose their favourite colours.