The first attempt

Glue didn't hold my underwear. But it was the start.

STEPHEN HISCOCK

Founder

Underwear is literally the most important thing we wear every day, yet it hasn’t changed in twenty years since the first pouch and nobody has done anything to actually solve the ride-up problem.

Every brand promises the exact same thing, that their underwear won’t ride up. Yet my whole adult life every boxer brief rode up (and I’ve tried all of them).

I got tired of wasting money on new brands only to be met with the same experience. They would work great for a few days and maybe two washes then I was right back to adjusting myself every 20 minutes at work.

I decided maybe I could try solving this problem for myself?

Hand-sewing experiments on a wooden dining table: printed fabric stitched around paper towel rolls, a coil of black band and a spool of thread

I started by rubbing some glue on my underwear. I went to work the next day excited to try my first idea. The first time I got off the forklift, they were riding up again. I was bummed because my first try didn’t work at all.

But I did not want to give up. I tried more glue, hand-sewing with a pin and needle, adding waistband material. I was met with the same disappointment. None of these actually solved the issue; they just made my boxer briefs more uncomfortable.

Hands guiding dark prototype fabric under the needle of a home sewing machine on a dining table, scissors and thread beside it

After a few weeks of trial and error determined to find a solution to a problem that’s haunted me for years and hundreds of dollars of underwear that never worked, I found some grip band that might work. I brought this band and some underwear to my girlfriend’s parents’ house. Her mom helped me out and sewed the band onto the base of the legs for me. This worked so well so we made a few and it was the first time I had worn boxer briefs that actually felt comfortable for a few hours. I wore my test pairs every day and I was blown away at how a simple addition made such a difference in my comfort. Finally I had underwear I didn’t have to adjust every 20 minutes.

Within a few weeks, and after a few sewing lessons, I bought a sewing machine and started making my own. I finally had 7 days' worth of comfortable boxer briefs that I wore to work every day. My girlfriend started telling her coworkers about my invention, and they wanted to try it too. We made some initial prototypes and after handing them out I asked for feedback.

They all said the same thing. My homemade boxer briefs solved a problem they didn’t know they had. This was the exact experience I had. These homemade boxer briefs finally solved the problem I had been dealing with my whole adult life.

I decided I should scale this up and start my own business selling men’s underwear. How hard could it be? It’s just underwear. So I set out and decided to make my own pair. I had no idea what this decision would turn into.

2023

The first prototypes, sewn one at a time.

I eventually started to burn out. I was tired of paying manufacturers for prototypes, explaining what I wanted over emails, phone calls, and videos only to get delivered something that belonged in a 7-pack from Costco. I wanted a high-quality solution to my problem. This involved a manufacturer capable of complicated sewing methods, high-quality fabric, and trims that I had no idea would be such a struggle to find.

I had a major setback and what felt like half a year of wasted effort with a company that had promised me they could eventually make what I wanted.

I almost gave up.

But I pressed on and found a new manufacturing partner.

After 6 months of back and forth, the first sales sample of my Nether Boxer Brief was on its way to my door. I put this first sample on and instantly felt that “a-ha” moment again.

Long story short, I wanted a better pair of underwear than what was being sold. So I set out to make my own.

  • A cotton swab held over the printed waistband of a pair of boxer briefs, mid-way through gluing grip strips on by hand

    March 2023

    It all started with trying to rub some glue on my underwear.

  • Hands feeding fabric under the needle of a Janome sewing machine on a wooden table

    A week later

    I bought a sewing machine and started making my own prototypes.

  • A homemade prototype held up by its red waistband, NETHER written across it in black marker

    May 2023

    Then I started handing out samples to friends and family.

  • A black sample boxer brief with a blue waistband, covered in green masking tape carrying hand-written notes to the factory

    October 2023

    I got such good feedback I decided to get my idea made in a factory.

    THIS TOOK FOREVER

  • Stephen leaning over a coffee table measuring a pinned white prototype with a tape measure

    2025

    Finally the first real prototype

  • Stephen holding up two sealed bags of finished Nether boxer briefs over an open shipping carton, snow outside the window

    March 20, 2026

    Shipping the first boxer brief

  • The Nether Roam Boxer Brief in Midnight, front view showing the full cut and satin waistband

    September 2026

    Roam.

    We launch Roam.

The first thing you put on every day should be the most comfortable.

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