These were my first purchase of such, and goes way back to the 70s in the UK.
"Wolsey SKANTS". A minimalist nylon string bikini. They were ground breaking for the time.
Wearing them just made me feel good. I wish I could still buy them. So different from the standard cotton "Y Fronts" of the time.
Do any of you look back to some you wish were still available and regret not stocking up?
Vintage string underware
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NoOnesOnion87
- Posts: 140
- Joined: Fri May 30, 2025 7:19 pm
Re: Vintage string underware
Yes, back in the day, Hang Ten made a nice selection of bikini underwear that I wish I had stocked up on.
Jockey also had a nice selection of men's elance string bikinis, but have since discontinued them.
Jockey also had a nice selection of men's elance string bikinis, but have since discontinued them.
Re: Vintage string underware
I too am missing the previous iteration of Jockey Elance String bikini.
I did buy a stack (a 7 pack I think) of the non-string version which is my daily wear in cold weather.
I did buy a stack (a 7 pack I think) of the non-string version which is my daily wear in cold weather.
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Pennbikini
- Posts: 359
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Re: Vintage string underware
Agree about the Hang Ten -- along with Jordache, Brut, Spalding, Playboy...
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NoOnesOnion87
- Posts: 140
- Joined: Fri May 30, 2025 7:19 pm
Re: Vintage string underware
Calvin Klein made some really nice string bikinis back in the early 1990s, very good quality cotton too, not like Jockey or Hang Ten, which would wear holes in the fabric within months. My Calvin's lasted me a long time!Pennbikini wrote: Sun Aug 24, 2025 3:05 pm Agree about the Hang Ten -- along with Jordache, Brut, Spalding, Playboy...
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NoOnesOnion87
- Posts: 140
- Joined: Fri May 30, 2025 7:19 pm
Re: Vintage string underware
And Reed St James, a nice little string bikini, found exclusively at Target. Later, Jockey brought them back as Jockey Life string bikinis.Pennbikini wrote: Sun Aug 24, 2025 3:05 pm Agree about the Hang Ten -- along with Jordache, Brut, Spalding, Playboy...
Re: Vintage string underware
I miss when brands like Hanes and Fruit of the Loom actually took chances and put out bikinis and skimpier underwear for men. Fruit of the Loom made string bikinis and thongs for men in the early to mid 2000s and then just never brought them back.
Re: Vintage string underware
I still have three pair of CK string bikinis, two with the narrow waist band and one with a thicker waist band - all three are about 25 years old and all three still in great shape. I've made a "joke" in the past that I have underwear older than you are - when in fact it wasn't really a joke but a true statement disguised as a joke.NoOnesOnion87 wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 12:16 pmCalvin Klein made some really nice string bikinis back in the early 1990s, very good quality cotton too, not like Jockey or Hang Ten, which would wear holes in the fabric within months. My Calvin's lasted me a long time!Pennbikini wrote: Sun Aug 24, 2025 3:05 pm Agree about the Hang Ten -- along with Jordache, Brut, Spalding, Playboy...
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NoOnesOnion87
- Posts: 140
- Joined: Fri May 30, 2025 7:19 pm
Re: Vintage string underware
I think they still make them, but they certainly don't advertise it on their social media accounts... as if somehow, they are ashamed of their own product! If you go to their official web page, you will probably find them. Hanes still makes and sells bikini briefs but have discontinued their line of thongs and string bikinis.Cachondo wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 5:06 pm I miss when brands like Hanes and Fruit of the Loom actually took chances and put out bikinis and skimpier underwear for men. Fruit of the Loom made string bikinis and thongs for men in the early to mid 2000s and then just never brought them back.
FTL (Fruit of The Loom) doesn't offer bikinis, string bikinis or thongs for men anymore.
Maybe if enough men reach out to these companies and demand more options in their line of men's underwear, do you think they would actually listen to us and do it? Probably not!