Cazwell Goes Commando, Launches Underwear Line - Exclusive Interview

Cazwell is a well-known rapper known for his songs with gay themes and sexy videos. He recently launched a line of underwear called Ice Cream Truck after his hit single with the same name. The line is a collaboration with designer Geoffrey Mac. We had the chance to sit down with Cazwell to discuss the collection, his underwear preferences, and what's next for the rapper. Check out the exclusive interview below.

MUB: Hello Cazwell, how are you? 
Cazwell: Good, thanks!

MUB: I'm a long-time fan and follower of your music. Let's get down to business and ask what we all want to know, what underwear are you wearing right now? 
C: Well today is long overdue laundry day so I’m actually free ballin’ right now in a pair of basketball shorts. But my whites are in the dryer, so I should have a fresh pair soon :)

MUB: Besides your own line, what would we find in your underwear drawer? Do you have a favorite style? Favorite brand?
C: I honestly have never have been a designer underwear kind of guy. I usually just run to Macy’s and grab a pack of Tommy’s or Calvin boxer briefs. I used to be strictly boxers kind of guy. It wasn’t until last year that I moved up to boxer briefs, lol.

MUB: What prompted you to start this line? What was the inspiration, besides the song of course? 
C: We were originally looking at sportswear. We wanted to do some basketball shorts and matching tanks, but then I said let’s just start with one simple product. I always wanted to get into the underwear business, and I did a lot of research with underwear buyers. We bounced back and forth with a bunch of names for it but landed on Ice Cream Truck because I’m associated with that video more than any other and it gave us the opportunity to work with a theme.

MUB: How involved were you in the design process? 
C: Very. I love working with Geoffrey Mac. They involved me in every step. It took a long time to figure it out. The things you think are simple like finding the right kind of elastic band to print the design on is actually extremely tedious, and there is a lot of testing involved but we finally got it right.

MUB: Will we be seeing you in "Ice Cream Truck"? 
C: Absolutely!! I’m planning the new ad campaign now. You’ll also see some new models. I'm excited about it!

MUB: It looks like the line is selling like hot cakes, or should we say hot pants? Do you have plans for expanding the line? Will you be making other styles like briefs or jockstraps? Or playing off of other slogans or songs of yours? 
C: You know I’m already thinking about that! LOL. The next step is dropping a bathing suit for the summer along with the next batch of underwear. This line obviously just started, but I hope to move into jockstraps and boxer shorts.

MUB: What's next for you? 
C: Right now I’m casting models for my next couple of videos so if you know of any, send them my way. And YES, they will be wearing Ice Cream Truck underwear…LOL!

New Levi's at International Jock

Levi's has just released a new line of underwear now available at International Jock. The line is classic Americana with a modern flair, perfect for wearing under your classic American jeans -- Levi's. They line comes in trunk and brief fit in several neutral solids with the iconic Levi's red tab logo on the waistband. They're simple and chic. 

Sexy Seamen from Modus Vivendi

Modus Vivendi continues the Dreamland series of campaigns for its Summer 2014 collection and this time is taking you to a world of sailors with its Seaman Line. 

The background images into which the models blend are reproductions of paintings by Yannis Tsarouchis (1910-1989), who is one of the most highly regarded modern Greek painters. His extensive depiction of soldiers, sailors and other men, often curiously described as “vulnerable”, was controversial and some of his exhibits were taken down by censors. It was Tsarouchis who introduced the iconic sailor motive into modern Greek theater. From the content of his images we can also deduce that he was deeply interested in fabrics and clothing and, at one point, he even tried his hand at weaving. 

This brand new line comprises evocative sailor-themed underwear, t-shirts, longsleeves and sleeveless tees. With references to sailor’s stripes, a range of luxury fabrics and a highly distinctive look these new clothes make a strong statement and offer supreme comfort. I'm really enjoying the play between reality and fantasy with this imagery; it's so evocative. Enjoy the eye candy but be sure to also check out the collection at Modus Vivendi's site. 

Ron Chereskin is Back!

Everyone loves a good comeback!  This fall Ron Chereskin is re-launching his iconic line.  Using his eye for color, along with his sense of style, Ron has created an amazing, bright and playful combination of yarn-dyed prints in a variety of styles.  The collection is available now from Undergear and ranges in price from $17 - $20. 

New Luxury Mesh from Timoteo

Timoteo has just released a new collection to their line called "luxury mesh". Known for its commitment to style, fit, and comfort, Timoteo's Soccer Jock, Athlete Jock, Super Low, and Scout men's underwear are available in black and white mesh, made of a nylon spandex blend.  The new collection is super sexy, while still leaving a little to the imagination.  It can be found now at UnderBriefs, where you can also get free shipping to the US and Canada. 

New Gear from BumChums

Back in December I briefly mentioned one of my favorite new brands Bum-Chums in my holiday gift guide.  Today I'd like to spend a little time to tell you a bit more about the brand and some of their new collections.  Bum-Chums is a British company, but recently they have exploded across the pond to the United States as well as Australia and Europe. Perhaps one of the most unusual but key aspects of the Bum-Chums brand is the location of manufacture; Bum-Chums manufacture all their high quality products in Yorkshire, England, and can therefore truly claim to be a wholly British brand, a fact not lost on the company’s founders Craig Hendry and Gareth Dickinson, who consider the British origin of their underwear to be an intrinsic part of the brand, so much so that the Union Jack is proudly prominent on all their product labels!

Bum-Chums undies come in a number of lines and styles: there is the celestial line, which features metallic fabrics; there is the fruity line, which features bright colors; the sneak peek is just like it sounds, a sneak peek through mesh fabric; and the classic collection is basic colors. 

In the past couple weeks Bum-Chums has launched two new lines: In2Cooler and Tool Belt.  The Tool Belt is my favorite of the two.  It comes in three colors: red, blue, and white.  The pouch is made from a solid fabric in this color while the back is made from black mesh that connects to the pouch in the back as well as in a unique manner across the front (see images).  This style is very unique; I haven't seen anything like it elsewhere.  And it's just so damn sexy too (not to mention comfy).  It retails for £18 (~$27 USD).  

If you're looking for something that is stylish and sexy while still allowing you to be comfortable, I highly recommend you try some Bum-Chums gear.  I've had the chance to try a lot of their collection and so far I love it all.  Stay tuned for a full review of one of their products coming soon! 

Michael Kors Launching New Men's Underwear Collection Soon

It seems that everyone who is anyone in fashion has to have an underwear at some point, it's like the sign that you've arrived.  Kind of like how it seems that ever celebrity and their mother has to launch a fragrance line.  Anyway, top American fashion designer Michael Kors, known mostly for his women's handbags, shoes, and of course his prominent role as judge on Project Runway, is now branching into the men's underwear world.  The collection is very basic and consists of briefs, boxer briefs, and boxer shorts as well as an assortment of different undershirts.  All the styles come in three colors: black, white, and powder blue.  Nothing very original or outside the box.  It seems that Kors is aiming to get in with the other department store staples like Calvin Klein, Hilfiger, and more recently 2(x)ist.  The question is will he be able to do it?  His new collection is very basic and far from innovative in my opinion.  I feel that the type of man he's marketing towards won't be so willing to branch out and try a new brand -- the guy who I think would buy his brand is certainly not an underwear connoisseur and thus probably has his brand that he sticks with year after year.  If I was in the market for basic underwear I certainly would branch out and try a brand new brand.  It will be interesting to see how Michael Kors fares against more established brands in the same category like Calvin Klein.  The line also comes in two and three packs, which gives you an idea of the target market.  The new collection is available for pre-order or Kors website for between $26 - $34.  It should be available in department stores like Nordstrom, Macy's and Bloomingdale's soon.  Below is a teaser commercial for the new line.

Gold Toe to Launch Underwear Line

The famed maker of Gold Toe socks is now expanding into the men's underwear market just in time for back-to-school.  The new line will be debuting in national chain and department stores, Gold Toe Stores, and at goldtoe.com. 

“Now is the time to launch Gold Toe underwear because consumers are returning to trusted brands,” said Steve Lineberger, chief executive officer of GoldToeMoretz. “New Gold Toe underwear draws from Gold Toe’s nearly 90-year legacy of delivering lasting quality and reliable fit. We are excited to provide consumers a great value in both socks and underwear.”

The Gold Toe underwear collection will consist of six styles: three tops (crew neck, v-neck and athletic tank); and three bottoms (brief, boxer brief and woven boxer). The collection will offer white, black and grey heather color choices, with woven boxers available in assorted patterns and plaids. All styles are constructed of super-soft, 100% combed cotton fabric that is preshrunk for better fit.

The new styles look to be quite basic - perfect staples for the average man's wardrobe.  Here at MUB we're looking forward to trying out the new styles to see how they fit. and feel  So stay on the lookout for a review. 

aussieBum Hunk Launched + New Video

The latest aussieBum line Hunk is now launched with a hot, new video.  The line was previously entitled Spunk as MUB reported here, but was deemed too raunchy and renamed Hunk.  The Hunk range has old-school style written all over it.  The main body of the underwear is white with contrast stitching in blue, red, and indigo with a matching waistband.  The look of the line is very timeless and doesn't give in to trends.  It fits in as easily today as it would have a decade ago.  And its timelessness will be sure to take you into the next decade as well.  It currently comes in two styles, a brief and a jockstrap. It is likely though that aussieBum may extend the line to include more styles.  The brief is available for $16 USD and the jock runs around $14.  And with aussieBum you know they are going to be quality, so the price is good for how well they will last you.  You might want to stock up!

X Marks the Hot--A Review

Calvin, you’re back. And you look better than ever.

Since the 1990’s, Calvin Klein has been the trail blazer for men’s underwear as fashion statements. Every innovation in men’s underwear has Calvin Klein’s fingerprints all over it: from boxer briefs, to over-sized signature waistbands, to the incorporation of metallics. Calvin Klein is a monolithic force in underwear, catering to every taste and preference from loose cotton boxers to slinky cotton/lycra thongs

As the brand innovates, it also retools, reinventing older lines, like my beloved “Body” line or the “Pro Stretch” line (think red waistband). At first glance, I thought that the “X Cotton” line of basics I was taking out for a test drive today would be a retake of the CK XT line, which I have to admit I was not a huge fan of.

So, as I took them out of the box, I was bracing myself for what I would pull out. The first thing I realized that they were made of a MUCH softer material than the XT line. They were also lighter and felt much more like a natural fabric than the garments of the XT line did. Only then did I realize that maybe I needed to switch paradigms because I was in for a whole new experience with the CK X Cotton trunk I had in my hot little hands.

The garment is fabricated primarily from cotton (55%), but is also contains modal and elasthene in almost equal proportion (45%). The result is a very stretchy garment that provides the contour hugging properties of synthetics but with the breathability of a natural fabric. In one word: HOTNESS.

Almost as alluring as the fabric, is the design aesthetic of the garment itself. More than anything else, I really like the nod to modernity and masculinity that the garment makes. The signature on the 1 ¼” black waistband is written in a dark, aqua-like color (CK calls it “tempest”) all the way around in chunky block sans serif letters. It’s a nice departure from the usual way CK incorporates its wordmark into the waistband of its undergarments. Available in black, white, and tempest (all colors feature the black waistband with tempest writing), the CK X Cotton is a bold new addition to CK’s repertoire. It also comes in hip brief, micro brief, and boxerbrief styles.

When I received the garment from Bare Necessities, I literally tore the package open to retrieve its contents. After closing the door to my office (I love underwear, but not enough to be cited for flashing my colleagues) I slipped the trunks on and wore them for the rest of the day. I’m happy to report that though I’m a briefs kind of guy, the trunks were super comfortable. They fit true to size for a North American medium (waist sizes 32-33-34). Though, they are stretchy enough that I’m sure that you could size down if you wanted an even closer fit. I’ve got pretty trained thighs, which is why I prefer briefs, but the legs of the trunks stretched without being restrictive. Same goes for the super soft jacquard waistband.

My only small criticism is the logo element attached to the front of the waistband. It felt like an afterthought and design-wise, seems a little discordant from the rest of the waistband. Other than that, I’m a very, very, happy boy with my CK X Cotton trunks.

The CK X Cotton line is brand new, you're reading about it here first! You can get it now at Bare Necessities.

Overall, I grant a score of 8.4 to the CK X Cotton Trunk based on the following criteria:
COOL FACTOR -- 9 (out of 10) – It’s the newest and hottest thing from CK
WEARABILITY -- 10 (out of 10) – I could easily wear these all day (and all night)
QUALITY -- 8 (out of 10) – No loose threads, clean stitching, quality manufacturing
HOTNESS -- 9 (out of 10) – You’ll be an undy rockstar when you sport these, they’re masculine and chic all in one garment
VALUE -- 6 (out of 10) – They’re Calvin’s latest, so you’ll have to pay premium price from them ($26 USD a pair).

New Range from aussieBum: Cottonsoft!

aussieBum has just released a new range of underwear called Cottonsoft. This new collection is all about the basics. It comes in brief and hipster styles in 3 basic solid colors: heather grey, white, and black. It sports a trendy, logo waistband and promises incredible comfort. Although this line is not nearly as fun and funky as some of aussieBum's other ranges, the difference here is the price point. The Cottonsoft collection is much more reasonable at $20 and $22 USD for the brief and hipster respectively. These new prices will ensure that everyone can get into some aussieBums. So you'll be getting the legendary aussieBum quality and attention to detail for a not-so-aussieBum price. These basic undies are sure to make a great stable to any man's underwear drawer. It's a win-win situation. Check it out!

MANstore Maya

MANstore is a great brand that comes from Germany. They come from the same stable as Olaf Benz. MANstore is known for their super sexy underwear that is perfect for those special occasions. One of their new lines Maya recently caught my eye and I thought I'd share it with you today. The Maya line is made from slate grey Titan fabric that has a metallic silver thread woven through it to give it a glittering effect. The yarn is fine enough that it does not detract from the soft finish of the fabric, as is often the case with metallic threads. I really love the way this fabric looks because it is sexy without looking trashy. It keeps the eye's attention and looks incredibly expensive and luxurious. This line is perfect for the bedroom with it's extra features like quick-release clasps on the strip string or metal ring on the circus string. You can get MANstore at Dead Good Undies.

World's First Seamless Pouch

International Jock is pleased to announce the immediate availability of a revolutionary new line of underwear from Ergowear.

Mens underwear styles with contoured pouches have always offered men the room and comfort they desire. Previously, creating these pouches has always required an often uncomfortable and distracting seam down the center of the support pouch to achieve the rounded shape. Now, for the first time ever, Ergowear has created a line of form-fitting underwear with a 3-dimensional rounded pouch that offers the desired concave pouch contour without a vertical seam in the center: Ergowear PLUS

Made from a blend of 90% cotton and 10% Lycra, the PLUS line offers the softness of cotton along with the support and shape retention of Lycra. The proprietary manufacturing process used to create Ergowear’s exclusive seamless pouch design stretches the fabric into a rounded shape while also largely neutralizing the Lycra in the pouch area so that the genitals are not compressed.

International Jock offers the new PLUS line in brief, bikini, thong and boxer brief styles in both black and white.

New Neon Glo!

Today aussieBum will be releasing their new limited edition Glo line. This line features neon colored undies with glow in the dark waistbands (something that's never been done before). Also, with the economic crisis, it's actually a great time to buy aussieBum as it will be about 30% less if you buy everything in the Australian dollar. As of this post, the undies are not yet live on the site, but I will update you when they are (which should be sometime later today). [Edit]: The Glo line is now live on aussieBum's site, check it out!

Introducing Parallel

A while back, aussieBum introduced a boxer short with integrated enhancing technology called the pilobtr. Now they have extended this concept even further with a new line called Parallel. I believe that the cut is exactly the same as the pilobtr, but there are now more color options (all in stripes) and they are made of cotton (instead of satin) so they can be worn everyday. These boxers are very fitted and will show off all your assets superbly, frankly the only reason I am opposed to wearing boxers is because they are so loose and unsupportive, but these boxers solve both those problems. So definitely give the new Parallel with support pouch technology a try today!

New MaleBasics Branded Underwear

MaleBasics has recently launched their own brand of underwear available exclusively on their site.  They have three different styles each in three different colors for a total of 9 different choices.  They have trunks, boxerbriefs (shown in blue), and briefs all available in light blue, purple, and red.  You can also purchase them in three packs by style.  These undies are similar in styling to Unico underwear with a prominent logo waistband.  They sell for $12 - $16 each.  So check out this cool new line of undies only at MaleBasics.  And now, for a limited time, when you purchase 2 or more of MaleBasics branded underwear you will get 25% off your entire order (no code necessary)!

Introducing B*Boy underwear

B*boy is a new brand of men's underwear created by William Baker. William Baker is mostly known for his 13 year career as Kylie Minogue's Creative Director and stylist, but he has also worked with the likes of All Saints, Geri Halliwell and Victoria Beckham.

B*boy offers an extensive and eclectic range of men's underwear and men's swimwear. Their underwear line includes stylish briefs (with button fly, normal fly, and no fly), boxerbriefs, jocks, and singlets. There are three lines of underwear: classix, basix, and sports. I especially like the looks of the sports line, the look is very innovative. And the swimwear line includes many different styles of swimwear as well as beach wear.

Their website is fun and fresh and includes many fun pictures of models wearing B*Boy underwear. Their underwear is a cotton/lycra mix, so they should hold up well for active lifestyles. It retails on their site for around £20 each (that's about 40 USD). I would suggest that you check out this cool new line. Remember, you heard about it here first! Stay tuned for a review soon.

aussieBum: Shine

AussieBum just released new Shine swimwear. These things will be sure to turn heads your way on the beach this summer. They come in blue, silver, bronze, and camo. Check out the promo video below.

AussieBum Vintage

Check out this new promo video from aussieBum for their new Vintage line. The new Vintage collection from aussieBum is basically a vintage-esque remake of their classic 'undies' line. Everything that's old is new again...

DT Ultra now available

The DT Ultra collection (which I mentioned here) is now available for purchase at DT Clothes and will soon be availble for purchase at DT Ultra.