Bamboo underwear: what it does, and how to wash it
Bamboo is soft on the skin, breathable and moves moisture away from you. Our boxer shorts are 95% bamboo and 5% elastane, cut long in the leg so they stay where you put them; our socks are 80% bamboo. Wash both at 30°C, inside out, and skip the dryer for the boxers.
Six in the morning, or seven, or whenever your day starts. Before the shirt, before the trousers, before the shoes, there is the layer nobody sees. You feel it from the first hour to the last: at your desk, on the train, on a long walk home. It is the layer that decides whether a day feels easy. That is why we gave our boxers and socks the same attention as everything else we make.
And we kept coming back to bamboo. Here is what it does, what ours are made of, and how to look after them.
Why choose bamboo for underwear?
Because it feels right all day. Bamboo is soft on the skin, breathable, and it moves moisture away from you. For the layer that sits closest to you, that is what matters most.
We make our bamboo boxer shorts and our socks from it for exactly that reason. You notice it on the first day; you appreciate it on the hundredth, because the blend keeps its softness through repeated washing. Read the whole story on our bamboo page.
What are our bamboo boxers made of, and how do they fit?
95% bamboo and 5% elastane. They are cut close, with a longer leg, so they stay where you put them, with a tonal logo on the waistband and nothing else. The bamboo blend keeps its softness through repeated washing.
Underwear is only noticed when it is wrong. Ours are made so you don't notice them at all: cut long in the leg, so they stay where you put them, and soft through every wash.
The longer leg is the detail that matters most. It keeps them where you put them, under jeans as well as under a slim trouser. You'll forget you're wearing them. That's the whole idea.
Underwear is only noticed when it is wrong.
How do you wash bamboo underwear?
At 30°C, inside out, and skip the dryer. That is all the boxers ask: a simple routine for something you wear every day, and the reason they stay soft for so long. Our socks come back from the wash the same and hold their shape.
| Boxer shorts | Socks | No-show socks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Made of | 95% bamboo, 5% elastane | 80% bamboo, 17% polyamide, 3% elastane | A bamboo blend |
| Fit | Close, with a longer leg | Hold their shape | Sit below the collar, hold at the heel |
| Details | Tonal logo on the waistband | The ETQ square, small enough to miss | The ETQ square |
| Wash | 30°C, inside out, no dryer | Come back from the wash the same | See the care label |
What about bamboo socks?
Ours are 80% bamboo, 17% polyamide and 3% elastane. They hold their shape and come back from the wash the same, with the ETQ square small enough to miss. Socks are the least considered thing most people own, and the first thing you notice when they are wrong. Ours are made to be forgotten, in Black, Blueberry, Desert Taupe, Off White and Sand, so they can match your trousers and keep the line unbroken down to the shoe. See all our socks.
There is another reason we care about socks: they help the leather lining of your shoes last longer, because there is less friction. We make both, so we think about both. For loafers and low sneakers, our no-show socks have one job: stay down and stay on. They sit below the collar of a low shoe and hold at the heel, so the foot stays covered and the shoe looks like it is worn bare. How to wear them is in how to wear loafers.
Which pack should you choose?
As many as you need for a week, and then some. Our boxer shorts come in packs of 2, 6, 12 and 18, in Black, Anthracite and Blueberry, and you can mix three 6-packs into one 18-pack. Socks come in packs of 3 and 9: a 9-pack covers a work week and a weekend, with two to spare. Our no-show socks come in black and white, in packs of 3 and 9 too.
Underwear is the kind of thing you buy once and then buy again. Starting with a bigger pack means every day of the week starts the same way. A 6-pack is an easy place to start.
Is bamboo underwear a good gift?
Yes, and it arrives ready for it. Our boxer packs come in a white box, ready to give away, with nothing to add but a name. Or to keep for yourself.
We make shoes and we make socks, so we think about both: a sock that holds its shape protects the lining of the shoe it sits in. Pair your boxers with something else that sits close to the skin: a heavyweight tee, for example. Read heavyweight or lightweight for what fabric weight means, or what makes shoes comfortable all day in smart shoes you can wear all day.
Frequently asked questions
What are ETQ boxer shorts made of?
95% bamboo and 5% elastane.
How do I wash bamboo boxers?
At 30°C, inside out, and skip the dryer.
What are ETQ socks made of?
80% bamboo, 17% polyamide and 3% elastane.
Which pack sizes are there?
Boxer shorts in packs of 2, 6, 12 and 18; socks in packs of 3 and 9.
Why wear socks with leather shoes?
There is less friction, so the leather lining of your shoes lasts longer.
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