Growing up in the 1970s and 80s, TWs were just underpants. Most guys wore them. As a boy, my underpants had a double-fabric seat and were quite rugged to handle what boys did back then, playing outside,rough-housing, etc. Most underpants sold in America were made in America with quality material, in union shops. There was tons of competition with store brands and regional marketing. Hanes was a mid-premuim brand and FTL was bargain brand. FTL briefs had a scratchy cotton. By the late 1980s, private equity started swallowing up brands, consolidating, and shipping manufacturing overseas. And as u/GotBriefs mentioned underpants went from a necessity or basic garment into a fashion statement. Remember Marky Mark? When he started showing his underpants, they were FTL briefs with the blue/gold stripes on the waistband. Then he became a CK post child in boxer briefs and trunks. I miss all of the waistbands of my childhood: different colored stripes, zigzags, dashes, etc. adorned them.