What Makes an Underwear Collector?

Underwear Collectors? These men tell us all about their underwear infatuation! 

To make a distinction, we first have to look at the fetish definition. The Merriman-Webster dictionary describes a fetish as an object or bodily part whose real or fantasied presence is psychologically necessary for sexual gratification. 

Under this denotation, an individual who is exceptionally aroused by undergarments has an underwear fetish. It can be that they get arousal from exposing themselves to others in underwear or from the smell of used undies, or even having a voyeuristic excitement watching someone in their underwear, among others. 

Ultimately, if underwear gets you excited in any way, shape, or form, you might have a fetish, and that's O.K. I'm all about people letting their freak flag fly. Now that's settled; who is an underwear collector then? 

Well, that would be me, for example. Because I'm someone who enjoys garnering things of a specified type, in this case, underwear. I still remember (and even have) the first "designer" briefs I bought a CK Cotton Stretch Hip Brief in black with a blue waistband and neon green lettering. I got them at their outlet at least ten years ago. 

This was a big thing for someone who decorated his college apartment bedroom with men's underwear ads. The thought of finally wearing what the male models were wearing on the ads was exhilarating. As a college student, I was all about the briefs and anything lycra and shiny. But once I discovered jockstraps, I ventured into more erotic styles. 

Just like me, there are a lot of underwear enthusiasts out there! So, I made it my mission to find out what tickles them about it. 

32-yeard old Ben (@rudebodybuilder) tells me that as a young boy, walking through the underwear aisle at the department store, he got excited seeing all different underwear styles and the men wearing them. The first pair he ever bought was a classic bike #10 jock - he still has it and wears it pretty frequently.  

When it comes to buying underwear, Ben says, "I chose based on how I think it will look and feel on me. Everyone has a different body and proportions, so some brands fit better on some guys than others. I always want pairs that are going to make me feel sexy, confident, and comfortable." 

For him, what sets Body Aware apart from other brands is that every style and pair is insanely comfortable and fits his body like a glove. Plus, that is a small business that supports the LGBTQ+ community and is also body positive. Encouraging all to accept and love themselves by showing off their beautiful bodies with their products. 

Luis (@gaymenthongs), who's 34-years old, tells me that at one point, he believes he had almost five hundred pairs of undies, but unfortunately, when moving out of NYC, he had to downsize and get rid of a lot. However, since discovering his infatuation for thongs, he's been adding different ones to his collection. He tells me, "I don't' know why I was so apprehensive about them; the way they hug my body, lift and display everything is beyond sexy." 

51-year-old artist, writer, and teacher Kenny (@kswanphd) discovered his underwear fascination when he was seventeen years old. His first pair, an Eminence thong in royal blue, is long gone now. He doesn't know how many he has but does tell me that he has three drawers to hold them all - it sounds like quite the collection. Like many other men I interviewed, Kenny enjoys Body Aware's feminine styles, cut for the male body. 

These men are genuinely fascinated with underwear - (@UnderwearL) 45-years old, has bought and sold over 2000 pairs in his lifetime. 50 years-old David (@D01903) has a collection of over 600 pairs. When asked if he considered an underwear collector? 52-year-old Mitchell (@mitchellhammock) said, "collector, or someone that might need help? And you know what, that thought has also crossed my mind. 

"Whether you have an underwear fetish or consider yourself a collector, Body Aware's quality, not to mention its variety of styles and fabrics, will make a great addition to your obsession, I mean collection."

– Jorge Gallegos (@manchic)