Underwear Guy Review: Fruit of the Loom String Bikini
Designer/Manufacturer: Fruit of the Loom
Website: http://www.fruitoftheloom.com/
Price: $20.00 5-pack

Fruit of the Loom (FTL) is an iconic American underwear brand with a long history dating back all the way to the 1850s. You can find FTL underwear in most discount department store across the US including Kmart, Wal-Mart and Target. Traditionally, FTL has been known for regular white briefs but they have always had a fashion line of underwear as well including bikinis and string bikinis. I ordered these string bikinis from FreshPair.com for the on-sale price of just $16.00 for a 5 pack which comes to a bargain-basement price of $3.20 per pair. The material is a 100% cotton that covers the basics but doesn’t feel all that great. The printed versions in particular have a certain stiffness to the material which doesn’t feel good to the touch. The waistband is black with Fruit of the Loom text repeated on the outside. The inside of the waistband is a little scratchy to the touch and could have used a little more of the “brushing” effect commonly used now to soften the feel of the material. The sizing is true-to size for the waist but just like the Target Merona string bikinis, these FTLs have far too much material cut in the front and particularly the back. The end result of this poor design is a rise that is high for a string bikini and some considerable looseness in the backside area which is unflattering and also “wedgie” prone. I give credit for a pouch design that is double-layered and seamed in the front. The pouch provides ample room and is comfortable if not particularly well-designed, you will find yourself hanging fairly low in the low-slung style on these FTLs so these aren’t the most supportive pair of underwear to wear. Understandably construction can take a hit when cost is so low but I did notice some uneven stitches and poorly trimmed fabric on the inside which doesn’t exactly denote quality control.

The Grades:

Fit:	C+	These aren’t a complete waste as they can be worn for every-day wear but the cut is truly not well-thought-out and I would say the fit is mediocre to average.
Design:	B	I give FTL credit for designing a pouch in these string bikinis but the colors and patterns are kind of boring and otherwise there’s not much to note in the design category.
Material:	B-	This cotton blend feels stiff and kind of cheap so I’m not giving high marks for the material.
Construction:	C	Loose threads are noticeable as well as haphazardly cut fabric at the waistband seams are noticeable and thus a very low score on construction quality.
Overall Grade:	C	These are certainly inexpensive string bikinis but given better alternatives out there I’d say these are definitely something to skip over in the underwear aisles.
Would I buy another pair? No, I’m fairly forgiving when it comes to department store brand underwear but these FTLs have too many flaws to overcome the upside of a low price. You should check out either the Hanes or Joe Boxer String Bikinis if you want affordable underwear that passes the basic grading marks and in many cases exceeds them.

Where To Buy:
Department stores and online including FreshPair.com: Product Page

Wear Recommendations:

All-day Wear	Loungewear	Athletic	Sleepwear	Office Wear	Special Occasion	Bedroom Wear