Undergear Soy and Bamboo Collections

Honestly, I never really thought of bamboo or soy as being particularly sexy.

When I thought of bamboo, I thought of pandas. Cute, yes. Sexy, er...

And as for soy, the first words that came to mind were 'tofu' and 'edamame'. Both quite tasty and healthy, but not exactly foods that get my pulse racing.

But several recent underwear collections available through Undergear.com show that both soy and bamboo can be very sexy indeed.

Both the bamboo-cotton blend in the Bamboo Report Collection and the 95% soy fiber content of the Tactics Soy Collection feel great next to the skin. Both collections provide a soft, stretchy and supportive fit. (If you like to wear undershirts outdoors as t-shirts, note that the Tactics Soy tee shirt is very body-hugging - suitable for only the most confident guys!)

So which collection is greener?

• Bamboo is generally considered a star plant in the green world. Some sources (Undergear included) call it 'the fastest regenerating plant on Earth'. Whether or not that's the case, it certainly does grow incredibly quickly - at certain times, bamboo shoots can grow 12 inches or more in a single day. An incredibly hardy plant, some people describe it almost as a weed since it often thrives without pesticides or much fertilizer and can be harvested without needing to be replanted. There are environmental concerns about the chemicals used to process bamboo into clothing fibers -- but apparently these solvents can be reused in order to minimize environmental damage.

• Soy fabric has been compared to cashmere for its luxurious feel and softness, with the advantageous difference that you can throw soy clothing into the washing machine. Some sites describe soy fiber as being a byproduct of soybean oil production. It's exciting to think that clothing this comfy can actually come from materials that would otherwise go to waste. According to the Salts Organic blog, soy clothing also has natural antibacterial and UV radiation protection and moisture absorption (highly desirably in close-fitting underwear) properties.

Frankly, both bamboo and soy based clothes seem like good green options. Which underwear you choose may come down to preference based on style or color. Personally, I loved the Report Bamboo Trunk - incredibly soft, supportive, comfortable and came through the washing and drying in our building's industrial-strength laundry room with flying colors. Then again, the Tactics Soy Trunk feels great too with a flattering fit and nice details like gently curving seams on the sides.

Soy or bamboo? The green choice is yours.

Where to buy:
Online at Undergear.com for $11.99 to $24 each. The Tactics Soy brief is currently on sale (in limited sizes) for just $6.97.