Understanding Underwear

3 minute read

If you’ve kept up to date with our latest Giving Item innovations, you’ll have heard us shouting about something we’re really proud of: Underwear.

Yes, you heard right. This basic essential we all put on each day is something that we’ve spent a huge amount of time perfecting, testing and creating over the last year. But why underwear, you ask?

Keep reading to find out.

1. Highly requested, often forgotten.

Underwear is one of the most highly requested items among our network of Giving Partners across the UK and beyond; however, it is also the item that is most often left out of donations. Unlike other clothing items, underwear must be donated brand-new for hygiene reasons but as donations are usually second-hand, this means underwear is easily forgotten.

The problem with this though is that with such a high need and not enough donations to meet it, there are many people who are reusing underwear for weeks before they can wash or access a clean pair. Not only can this lead to a whole range of health issues and hygiene problems, but it can radically diminish someone’s dignity or self-worth.

This is something we are determined to change.

Now, at OutsideIn we take the feedback of our Giving Partners very seriously. After all, they are the ones on the ground working directly with those in need in their respective communities. So, when a number of our Giving Partners shared that one of the greatest needs among the service-users was the availability of brand-new, high-quality, dignity-giving underwear, we knew we needed to do something. And ASAP!

With the help of our Giving Partners, our own team got to work and began designing the perfect pair. After countless iterations, constant testing and insight from our Giving Partners, last year we launched our first-ever Boxers and Briefs.

Both styles have been carefully designed to offer a unisex fit so that no matter who is picking up a pair, they get to choose what they like best so they can feel their best.

2. Designing for dignity.

Aside from a clean pair of underwear itself being one way to give people a sense of dignity, we learnt that for many of the service-users who turn to our Giving Partners for help and support, asking for underwear can often be humiliating and uncomfortable - particularly for younger individuals.

With the need for underwear so great, we didn’t want embarrassment to create a barrier to access for those who need these items most. So, we began thinking of ways that we could not only make our Boxers and Briefs accessible, but how we could make them discreet and easily attainable too.

After hours of brainstorming, we finally landed on the Giving Cube.

This small, ambiguous and foldable cube could not only hold each pair of underwear neatly, but it made it easy for people to pick up a pair or two without any shame, insecurity or embarrassment.

For many individuals experiencing homelessness, it can be difficult to find things that create dignity instead of diminishing it. We wanted each pair of underwear to leave people feeling dignified, valued and respected - no matter their need.

We even included a variety of sizing, ranging from XXS to XXL, so that the dignity we aim to create extends right down to the details that count.

3. Words matter.

Words are powerful and we are committed to using that power for good.

Have you felt low and in need of a little encouragement, only to find that some kind words of affirmation lift your spirits? For many of the individuals who receive the Giving Items that you donate with every purchase, uplifting words don’t come often.

In fact, for many individuals experiencing homelessness life can be incredibly lonely, isolating and discouraging. With this in mind, we wanted to find a way to use our underwear to share a message of hope, an encouraging reminder and a word of kindness to every person who received a pair.

After testing designs and playing around with text, we decided to line the Giving Cube with words of encouragement. Inspired by the Tags of Hope we attach to many of our other Giving Items, doing this meant that when the person receiving this Giving Item opened up their box, they would not only get a pair of underwear but that they would receive important reminds about themselves too: reminders of their worth, reminders that they are loved, reminders not to give up and reminders that they are seen. 

For many of the people who receive these Giving Items, these may be the only positive words they hear all day.

4. Quality counts.

One of the things that stands out most to our Giving Partners is the quality of the Giving Items you donate each time you purchase.

Now this might not seem like a big deal for a pair of Underwear; however, since many of the individuals who benefit from your donations will rely on one pair of Underwear for longer than intended, it is extremely important that they last. Therefore, quality is absolutely essential to ensure that each pair is durable, breathable, comfortable and long-lasting. To achieve these qualities our Fashion Team spent a lot of time testing and perfecting each design, making sure that they would both satisfy the needs of those who would receive them and uphold the quality we’re committed to as a clothing company.

No matter what you buy and no matter what items those purchases donates, we are determined to make sure every OutsideIn item, sold or given, is made with care, precision and intention.

5. You gave, we delivered, they distributed.

Following your purchases, we divided and allocated the Underwear donated among our Giving Partners. Once every pair of Underwear was allocated, we delivered the donations to the respective Giving Partners, ready for them to be distributed among their service-users.

Every donation was made possible by you and our Giving Partners were so grateful for the support of OutsideIn's customers.

We know a pair of Underwear might not seem like the biggest deal, but take it from us, it makes the biggest difference. 

So, thank you. Thanks for making this product possible all the way from the innovation to the donation itself. We couldn't have done this without you!

We can't wait to share more about how you're helping those in need, near, far and all around the world!