Xiamen Unitex Trade Co., Ltd. is a professional underwear sourcing & supply-chain management company based in Xiamen, Fujian Province, in the Xiamen–Quanzhou–Jinjiang knitwear cluster of south-east China. Founded by Will Lin, who has worked in the apparel trade since 2004, the company has been exporting since 2009 and was incorporated in Xiamen in 2013. It runs its own liaison office in Jinjiang and works with a network of BSCI & OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified partner factories to serve retailers and brands across Europe, the US and Australia.
In public perception, men’s underwear is often labeled as “practicality first,” and color choices seem to be confined to the monotonous cycle of black, white, and gray. However, in reality, from the early functional orientation to today’s expression of individuality, the evolution of colors in men’s regular underwear not only reflects the progress of textile technology but also mirrors the upgrading of contemporary men’s consumption concepts and aesthetic demands. Those colors close to the skin, though seemingly hidden, silently carry the wearer’s pursuit of life quality.
Black, White and Gray: The Classic Iron Triangle
Black, white, and gray, known as the “classic iron triangle” of men’s underwear, still dominate the market today, backed by irreplaceable functional advantages and cultural recognition.
Black: the Business Default
Black underwear, with its excellent dirt resistance and visual slimming effect, has become the first choice for business men. According to a 2024 consumer report from an underwear brand, black styles account for a staggering 38% of sales, far exceeding other colors. In terms of material adaptability, black dyes have stronger adhesion to common fabrics such as cotton and modal. After multiple washes, they can still maintain an even color, avoiding the problem of light-colored clothing easily turning yellow and looking old. More importantly, black has a “zero-tolerance” matching attribute – even if the hem of a shirt is accidentally exposed or the outer pants are made of thin fabric, black underwear can naturally integrate into the overall outfit without undermining the professionalism of business occasions.
White: Freshness and Its Craft Caveat
White underwear represents cleanliness and freshness, making it a favorite among minimalists. In traditional concepts, white is closely associated with “health” and “comfort,” so it is widely used in sports scenarios. White styles launched by professional sports underwear brands mostly adopt antibacterial fabrics and breathable mesh designs. They not only meet the visual sense of freshness but also reduce sweat residue through the characteristics of the material, minimizing stuffiness. However, white underwear has higher requirements for craftsmanship: high-quality products use double-layer fabrics to avoid the embarrassment of transparency, and at the same time, add anti-fluorescent agent ingredients to balance safety and practicality. In recent years, with the rise of environmental protection concepts, “low-saturation whites” such as off-white and milk white have gradually replaced pure white. These colors are visually softer and reduce environmental pollution caused by bleaching processes, becoming a new choice under the trend of sustainable consumption.
Gray: the Versatile Middle Ground
The gray color family, with its status as a “versatile champion,” balances the extremes of black and white. The gradient changes from light gray to dark gray cater to the wearing needs of different scenarios: light gray combines the freshness of white and the dirt resistance of black, making it suitable for daily commuting; dark gray has a more textured appearance and is often included in the business underwear series, avoiding color awkwardness when matched with suit pants; medium gray has become the first choice for home scenarios, as it does not look dirty as easily as white and appears more relaxed than black. Data shows that the gray color family accounts for approximately 25% of men’s underwear consumption, standing between black and white, and serving as a “safe option” that balances practicality and aesthetics.
Beyond Black, White and Gray: Soft and Vibrant Color Families
In recent years, the colors of men’s underwear have gradually broken the “monopoly of black, white, and gray.” Soft color families and vibrant color families have begun to gain market share, marking an upgrade in men’s demand for self-expression. The Morandi color family, characterized by low saturation and high softness, has become a new favorite of high-end underwear brands. Colors such as light pink, light blue, and mint green can break the dullness of traditional underwear without being overly ostentatious, perfectly aligning with the “low-key refinement” aesthetic pursuit of contemporary young men. According to data from an e-commerce platform, the sales volume of men’s underwear in Morandi colors increased by 67% year-on-year in 2024, with light pink styles being the most popular, and buyers were mostly urban men aged 25-35. To weaken the “feminine” stereotype traditionally associated with the pink color family, brands often pair it with fabrics like silk cotton or modal. The delicate luster of these fabrics enhances the high-end feel of the color, making light pink a “hidden choice” for demonstrating taste.
Vibrant Colors for Sport and Leisure
Vibrant color families, on the other hand, target sports and leisure scenarios, with high-saturation colors such as orange, bright yellow, and royal blue making their way into men’s underwear designs. Sports underwear brands skillfully apply color psychology: orange is defined as an “energy color,” suitable for high-intensity sports to help users boost their sports performance; royal blue is endowed with a “sense of calmness” and is often used in yoga or jogging underwear series to relieve tension during exercise. In addition, gradient colors and color-block designs have gradually emerged. Some brands have launched color-block underwear with “dark top and light bottom” or color-block waistbands. These designs not only add visual layering but also maintain the calm tone of men’s underwear. Under the “Men’s Underwear Outfits” topic on a social platform, the average number of likes for posts sharing color-block elements is 30% higher than that for solid-color styles, indicating the preference of young people for personalized designs.
Earth Tones: Warm, Natural and Low-Key
As a “transition color” connecting classics and trends, the earth color family also holds a place in the men’s underwear market. Colors such as khaki, tan, and light coffee combine natural texture with versatile properties, making them suitable for matching with casual pants or jeans. In terms of craftsmanship, these colors often undergo a washing process to give them a natural vintage look, adding a retro atmosphere to the clothing. Data shows that the earth color family accounts for 32% of men’s underwear consumption among the 35-45 age group. For mature men, khaki underwear is neither as monotonous as black and white nor as bold as the Morandi color family; instead, it exudes stability, becoming a low-key choice for demonstrating taste.
Choosing Color by Scenario: Business, Sport and Home
Business: the Invisibility Principle
The choice of men’s underwear colors is essentially an adaptation to life scenarios. The color needs in different scenarios reflect the in-depth connection between clothing functions and the wearer’s psychology. In business scenarios, color selection must follow the “invisibility principle,” that is, to avoid the underwear color being exposed and affecting the professionalism of the overall outfit. Therefore, dark colors such as black, dark gray, and navy blue are the first choices. These colors can effectively prevent the outline of the underwear from being exposed when matched with white or light-colored shirts; when paired with suit pants, even if the clothing shifts due to sitting posture, there will be no awkward color clashes. At the same time, the color of business underwear also needs to consider the thickness of the fabric: thin dark-colored underwear is suitable for summer wear to avoid color transparency caused by overly thick fabric; thick styles are suitable for winter and will not cause color conflicts when matched with wool pants.
Sport: Visibility, Safety and Sweat
In sports scenarios, color selection focuses more on functionality and safety. In addition to enhancing sports performance through colors, high-visibility colors have also become an important design direction for sports underwear. Colors such as fluorescent green and bright orange can improve the wearer’s visibility during nighttime sports, reducing safety risks. Furthermore, the color of sports underwear also needs to take sweat residue into account: although light colors are prone to showing sweat stains, the use of moisture-wicking and quick-drying fabrics can quickly evaporate sweat and keep the clothing dry; dark colors, on the other hand, require attention to dye stability. High-quality products adopt color-fixing technology to prevent dyeing after sweating, ensuring that the clothing remains clean after sports.
Home: Comfort and Quiet Individuality
In home scenarios, color selection leans more towards comfort and individuality. Light colors such as off-white, light gray, and light blue can create a relaxed home atmosphere, and when paired with cotton fabrics, they further enhance wearing comfort. Additionally, colored underwear with small patterns, such as stripes and small polka dots, has also begun to appear in home scenarios, becoming a “hidden way” for men to express their individuality. A home life survey shows that 72% of men believe that the color of home underwear affects their mood – when choosing underwear in natural colors such as light blue or light green, their mood happiness significantly increases, making home underwear a “small tool” for regulating emotions.
Where the Market Is Heading: Function, Personality, Sustainability
Supply Side: In-House Color Laboratories
From the perspective of market development trends, the colors of men’s underwear are moving towards “functionalization, personalization, and environmental protection.” On the supply side, brands have begun to attach importance to the “color research and development” of men’s underwear. Some high-end brands have established specialized color laboratories, combining annual popular colors with men’s consumption psychology to develop exclusive color numbers. For example, a brand launched “deep sea blue” underwear in 2024. By adjusting the lightness and purity of blue, it not only conforms to men’s aesthetics but also has a unique brand recognition. Other brands have tried to integrate natural elements into color design, launching colors close to nature such as “pine needle green” and “sandstone brown” to meet men’s psychological pursuit of “natural life.”
Demand Side: Color Now Matters to 68% of Buyers
On the consumer side, men’s attention to underwear colors has increased significantly. A consumer survey shows that 68% of men prioritize color when purchasing underwear, compared to only 35% in 2019. Generational differences among consumer groups have also led to the differentiation of color preferences: Generation Z is more inclined to try the Morandi color family and color-block designs, focusing on the personalized expression of colors; post-80s prefer the earth color family and dark gray, pursuing the texture and versatility of colors; post-70s still mainly choose black, white, and gray, valuing the practicality of colors. This difference has driven brands to launch “age-specific color systems,” designing exclusive color schemes for consumers of different age groups to further refine market demands.
Technology: Eco-Dyes and Digital Printing
At the technical level, the application of environmentally friendly dyes has made it possible to innovate the colors of men’s underwear. Traditional dyes have problems such as fading and residual harmful substances, which limit color choices. However, environmentally friendly dyes such as natural plant dyes and water-based dyes not only offer richer and more stable colors but also reduce skin irritation. A brand used natural dyes extracted from tea to develop light brown underwear, which not only conforms to environmental protection concepts but also has a unique natural fragrance, quickly becoming a best-seller after its launch. In addition, 3D printing technology has also begun to be applied in underwear color design. By precisely controlling the distribution of dyes, more complex color patterns can be achieved, opening up a new path for color innovation in men’s underwear.
Conclusion
The evolution of men’s regular underwear colors, though seemingly a minor consumer detail, is actually a microcosm of social concepts and aesthetic culture. From the “practicality-first” black, white, and gray to the “individual expression” of diverse color families, the change in color choices reflects the continuous improvement of men’s attention to their own needs. They no longer regard underwear as a “hidden necessity” but as a carrier for demonstrating their attitude towards life. In the future, with the advancement of technology and the further upgrading of consumption concepts, the colors of men’s underwear will pay more attention to the integration of functionality, aesthetics, and environmental protection, becoming an important part of demonstrating men’s quality of life and personal attitude. In this era where “details determine taste,” choosing a properly colored pair of underwear may be the first step for men to improve their quality of life.
· Xiamen Unitex Trade Co., Ltd. — OEM & ODM underwear sourcing partner