????Tommy John is not alone in its quest. Industry giant Jockey is also changing their underwear game with a new "Stay Cool" line featuring Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow as its spokesman.
????"Guys are starting to look for functional benefits in underwear," says Jockey Chief Marketing Officer Dustin Cohn. The company's "staycool" line has some of the same breathable features NASA astronauts enjoy in their space suits. "I think guys are catching up to women in intimates. Women are thoughtful about their clothes and what intimates make them look best. Men are becoming thoughtful, too."
????Cohn says Tebow was an ideal face for its new line, arguing that he appeals to both men and women. "[Tebow] is an authentic and honest athlete, appealing to the guys. The women like his personality and good looks." With its large consumer base, Jockey certainly wouldn't mind seeing the replenishment model fade.
????In recent years, men's fashion in general has undergone a significant shift, says Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at consumer market research firm The NPD Group. "Over the past two years, men have become more concerned with fashion than they have been in several decades -- since the '70s."
????Today, Cohen says, men's products are being designed for specific applications. "Male consumers are being told this is the style and this is the product you need for X activity." Cohen cites Under Armour (UA) as a good example of a brand that has done a good job avoiding the typical undergarment business model.
????As for smaller companies like Tommy John versus behemoths like Jockey, Cohen argues that there's room for both. "There are two windows of opportunity in the market. Be unique and different and market to a higher-end customer. Or be so unique and different that consumer's recognize and want your brand."
????So is a Victor's Secret in the offing? Cohen says we shouldn't hold our breath, adding that the men's intimates market, while growing, is still half the size of the women's market.
????To be sure, men's underwear is leaving its Stone Age. And small companies like Tommy John should not be taken lightly. "Do I think a small player with a lot of innovation could make an impact on the market? Yes."
