Thongs

A thong is a type of underwear or swimwear that is synonymous with both men and women around the world. Its characteristic style is defined by a thin strip of fabric that runs along the center of the rear end of the undergarment. Renowned retailer Fresh Pair describes the thong as "An underwear style for both men and women with a thin fabric back that rests between the buttocks".

The word ’Thong’ originated from the Old English word ’Thwong’, which stands for a flexible leather cord. It is believed that thongs have decended from ’Loincloth’ which is an ancient, one-piece garment worn by males. Thongs, with their ingenious design providing support whilst being comfortable, gained popularity in South America during the early 1970’s. This growing trend gradually picked-up and gained widespread populartiy in the United States during the 1990’s. The thong can be distinctly categorized into three types, the G-string, V-string and the traditional thong. Traditional thongs is the most common design involving a trip of fabric that varies in width and connects the pouch to the waistband throughout the rear. The G-string and V-string have similar designs with the G-string consisting of an actual string of fabric that connects the pouch to the waistband; whereas the V-string separates into two strings before it connects with the waistband, thus forming a small triangular patch of fabric between the buttocks and the waistband.

The comfort level of thongs makes them ideal for both men and women. Thongs are popular amongst people of all ages and sizes across the UK.