Underwear: History and Evolution from Ancient Egypt to the Present

This article explores the history and evolution of underwear from ancient Egypt, where the earliest form was the linen loincloth worn by both men and women for convenience and hygiene. In the Greco-Roman era, men used the subligaculum, while women used the strophium combined with a cloth covering the lower body. During the European Middle Ages, men wore loose-fitting braies, while women typically did not wear underwear beneath their long garments. By the 19th century, women began wearing pantaloons or drawers made of cotton. The 20th century witnessed the rise of modern underwear such as briefs, boxers and panties due to the growth of the textile industry and fashion trends. In the 21st century, design priorities have expanded to include fashion, hygiene and specialized performance functions (e.g., sportswear, seamless styles, synthetic materials). The article also discusses the three main roles of underwear hygiene, modesty and socio-cultural symbolism and clarifies common misconceptions linking underwear use to inguinal hernia, emphasizing medical evidence that underwear neither causes nor prevents the condition.