National Underwear Day, August 8th

Everyone wears underwear, or everyone should wear underwear that is. Underwear has been around since Adam figured out he could cover his twigs and berries with fig leaves. We've all bemoaned the creeping, crawling ones that just won't stay in place and some of us have experienced the joy of freedom without them. Underwear is universal, even in the jungles of third world countries, tribes are found covering their intimate bits one way or another.

Fresh Pair, an online retailer of men's and women's intimate apparel felt that this glorious item of clothing should be celebrated rather than ignored. They realized that the 13 billion dollar a year industry doesn't get the recognition it should and decided to do something about it. Their motto is, "underwear should no longer be merely the first thing you put on and the last thing you take off, but the most important thing you wear all day."

In August of 2003 Fresh Pair sent twenty male and female models into the streets of New York wearing only underwear. They collected signatures on their undie-covered behinds in hopes of convincing America to set an Official day aside for celebrating underwear.

Sponsors for the 2006 invasion on Time Square on National Underwear Day included the likes of Puma, 2(x)ist, Cotton Inc, Goddess, Freya and Hugo Boss. Even the Breast Cancer Research Foundation got in on the action.

People around the United States have started adopting their own unique ways to celebrate National Underwear Day. There's the Great Outdoor Underwear Festival in Ohio, Panty Parties in San Francisco, Live DJ's at an Underwear Party in Tuba City and personal parties held by individuals in their own homes just to name a few.

This celebration has gotten so much press coverage that Elton John decided to attend. He watched the underwear clad people in the streets via live video feed and gave thumbs up to the booties he thought looked best.

This year come August 8^th a whole new set of models (50 in fact) will be featured in a fashion show in an effort to collect more signatures. They will be wearing some of the top brands of underwear in a variety of styles. They plan on having prize giveaways, contests, more sponsors and surprises that they haven't yet released to the public. Fresh Pair encourages everyone to participate and wear a Fresh Pair this year to help them gain an Official Underwear Day declared on the calendars. If you can't join them in New York, Fresh Pair has a petition online at their website where you can vote for this official day.