Functions of Foundation Garments

Functions of Intimate Apparels

Foundation garments are very closer to human body skin than other cloths hence called intimate apparels and which are used to perform basically physiological needs and psychological needs. When we deep studying about foundation garments we can mainly identified major four functions and they are,

Ø  Body shaping and retaining

Ø  Protection and comfort

Ø  Aesthetic aspects

Ø  Hygiene and medical aspects

These functions are provided through physiological, psychological, serviceability and durability, and other requirements of intimate apparels. I can explain above I listed functions with suitable examples.

Body Shaping and Retaining

Commonly intimate apparels are produced from knitted structures as a body fitted garments. All we know knitted structures are stretchable and here produced measurements are little shorter than real body measurements. When it dressing knitted fabric will be expanded and will keep better body shape retention. I can give examples as ladies under garments such as panty hoses, swimming cloths, brassieres, etc. Not only that some fat people have deformed/ ugly abdomen area reduces by dressing some underwear such as men’s vests.               

Protection and Comfort

We know our body skin may affect sometimes Ladies and men’s underwear are used to protect genital parts, abdomen area, and posterior area from hot and cold climate, abrasion and bruise, cutting by blades, chemicals and biological effects such as rash, bacteria effect and virus effects. To perform required protection and comfort needs underwear layer will work as second skin of body. It means underwear works between environment and skin of body. Not only that sometimes some person working without wearing underwear such as weightlifting but this is risk because may be occurred hernia. Apart protection, another main function is performing comfort. Usually intimate apparels such as men’s and women’s panties, vests, women’s brassieres are produced by cotton based fabrics or blended cotton fabrics. Cotton based fabric absorbs sweats well, higher air and water permeability, good ventilation properties, etc. Therefore these under garments are suitable even hot climate and give comfortably to wearer.

Type of Garment	Covering Area	Protection
Vest	Chest, abdomen, upper back area	Abdomen and chest
Briefs	Growing area	Protect genital parts
Boxers	Waist to knee	Legs, posterior and half bottom body part
Thermal wear	All above area	Protect from winter
Brassiere	Breast area	Nipple and breast
Corsets	Chest, abdomen, upper back area	Upper body part
Girdles	Waist to knee	Legs, posterior and growing area

Aesthetic Aspects

Some ladies underwear produced with good aesthetic and sexual look. Because not like men but women more like to dress with colours, designs and various design based intimate apparels to obtain sexual and aesthetic attraction of people. So manufacturer produces foundation garments with different decorations, colours, etc to increase sale

Hygiene and medical aspects

Some intimate apparel is produced to perform hygienic and medical aspects. For example some ladies panties are designed to keep/retain sanitary pads/towels. And most time swimming wear, beachwear and sportswear produce with high hygienic and medical performances to prevent from bacteria and virus effects. Not only that prevents abrasion from skin with external surface and commonly used Lycra spandex for swimming and sportswear.