Last time Mintel reported on the market for men’s underwear, in March 2002, the market was fairly stagnant. The only segment showing any significant growth was underpants. Since then the market has picked up with underpants still setting the pace.

The mid-market retailers have become significantly more inventive, finding new ways of combating the value sector and especially the supermarkets. An injection of innovative style, design, added features and much greater segmentation have all been factors in this. In addition, private label is becoming significantly more sophisticated with sub-brands being developed to cater for specific niches.

Last time Mintel reported on the market for men’s underwear, in March 2002, the market was fairly stagnant. The only segment showing any significant growth was underpants. Since then the market has picked up with underpants still setting the pace.

The mid-market retailers have become significantly more inventive, finding new ways of combating the value sector and especially the supermarkets. An injection of innovative style, design, added features and much greater segmentation have all been factors in this. In addition, private label is becoming significantly more sophisticated with sub-brands being developed to cater for specific niches.

Exclusive consumer research and authoritative market analysis provides insight into all the key industry issues, including:

market trends

the importance of style, brand and design to market growth

opportunities to sell more goods to each consumer

how social climbing is helping to boost sales

which factors stimulate demand.

Within the context of this report, men's underwear includes:

underpants

vests and T-shirts sold as vests

socks.

Underpants include all-in-ones (long johns), boxer shorts and trunks. The differentiation between boxer shorts and trunks is somewhat blurred, as manufacturers often call tight trunks 'boxers', whereas boxers are traditionally looser underwear shorts.