A Short History Of Long Johns-00-4801

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The history of long johns is a funny one. A big man named John Sullivan, a boxer in Boston Massachusetts, bragged that he could lick anyone at anytime. John became known not only for his hard-hitting, bare-knuckled style or fighting, but also for the mark he left upon the world of fashion. Unlike other fighters of his time, John entered the ring wearing only long underwear, otherwise known as the Union suit. As his notoriety grew, John's wardrobe took on the identity of the man, himself. The term "long johns" lives on, a tribute to a truly colourful character in American history.

Modern long underwear has largely supplanted the one-piece union suit. In the USA, it is usually made from a cotton or cotton-polyester blend fabric with a box-weave texture, although some varieties are also made from flannel, particularly the union suit, while many newer varieties are made from polypropylene, such as the Capilene trade name.

European manufacturers use wool blends or even 100% wool, usually Merino or other high quality wool. Some models might include a thin layer of polyester to transport moisture away from the skin. ...
... Wool, in addition to being fire retardant, provides highly effective insulation and will keep its insulating properties even when wet, as opposed to artificial fibres.

The type known as "thermal underwear" is made from two-ply fabric of either a wool layer and an artificial fibre, only wool or, again mostly in the USA, two layers of only artificial fibres, which uses trapped body heat to insulate against cold air.

Long johns are regarded with some comedic derision in modern underwear terms. They are the butt of many jokes and are predominantly thought of as being old fashioned and countrified. However, in winter sports circles and colder climes, long johns and their modern day thermal underwear alternatives are still quite popular. When you're cold, it doesn't seem to matter what you've got on under your clothes to keep you warm. Additionally, it could also be argued that long johns have developed to a certain kitsch appeal that has grown out of the very comedy and rural charms that had initially provided derision for them.

About the Author:

The www.long-johns.co.uk story all began on a dark night in a small log cabin in the Andes. Trapped under a blizzard that had closed the pass down to the valley below, the founding members of the Long Johns team were foolish enough not to bring their thermals with them and were close to being forced to share body heat to keep warm. Just as things seemed dire, the crew noticed a band of industrious silk worms who span them the finest long johns ever made and they were saved. Thus started our love affair with long johns and other thermal wear/implements of heat retention and we haven't looked back since.