Guides

Straight answers on why underwear marks, chafes, rides up or wears out, and what to look for instead. Written by the people who make CotCloud trunks, about any garment, not just ours.

The waistband of a grey cotton trunk held gently stretched between two hands, the only stretch test a shop lets you run
How Much Should Cotton Underwear Stretch?
Enough to move with you, and no more. Stretch should be a comfort margin rather than the thing that makes a garment fit — and the direction the fabric stretches... Read more
A navy cotton trunk laid flat on a mesh drying rack in daylight, the arrangement that dries fastest without hanging weight from the waistband
Why Does Some Cotton Dry Faster Than Other Cotton?
Because a garment does not dry evenly — it dries at the pace of its thickest part, and on underwear that is always the waistband. Two trunks in the same... Read more
Side view of an olive cotton trunk on a mannequin, showing where the leg hem sits on the thigh
How Long Should a Trunk's Leg Be?
The leg should end above the point where your thigh starts widening — not on it, and not below it. That point sits in a different place on every build,... Read more
Macro view of soft cream cotton knit falling in gentle folds, the surface feel a fingertip judges when underwear is new
What Makes Underwear Soft — and What Makes It Stay Soft?
Softness is not one thing. It is three separate things that get called by the same name — how the surface feels to a fingertip, how easily the fabric gives... Read more
Cotton trunks air-drying on an indoor clothesline in daylight, the washing and drying routine that decides how long underwear stays comfortable
Why Does Underwear Get Less Comfortable Over Time?
Comfort does not fall away all at once. It goes in a predictable order — the waistband first, then the surface, then the fabric's ability to spring back, and finally... Read more
Cotton trunk fitted on a mannequin hip form, showing the curved front panel seams and flat leg openings that make underwear supportive
What Does Supportive Underwear Actually Do?
Supportive underwear holds things in position without squeezing. Four parts of the garment do that work — the pouch, the leg openings, the waistband, and the fabric's ability to spring... Read more
A fine steel comb drawn through raw cotton, with short tangled fibres caught on one side and long straight fibres on the other.
Combed vs Carded Cotton: What Changes After 20 Washes?
New out of the packet, combed and carded cotton feel closer than the price gap suggests. The difference shows up later. Carded yarn keeps more short fibre, and short fibre... Read more
A pair of grey cotton trunks lying on the seat of an office chair, seen from above.
The Best Underwear for Long Working Hours: What to Look For
For a long working day, four things decide comfort: waistband width, fabric weight, leg length and fabric recovery. Which of them matters most depends on whether you spend the day... Read more
A floating square of grey cotton knit fabric with soft currents of air passing through the gaps in the knit
What Does Breathable Actually Mean in Fabric?
Breathability is two separate properties sold under one word. Air permeability is how easily air moves through the cloth. Moisture management is how readily the fabric takes up sweat and... Read more
Close-up of a wide flat woven waistband on a men's cotton trunk.
Why Does Underwear Leave Marks on Your Waist?
A waistband leaves a mark when it presses harder than the skin can spread the load — usually because the band is too narrow, or because its elastic has aged... Read more