Long underwear , also called long johns or thermal underwear , is a two-piece clothing style with long legs and long sleeves normally worn during weather cold. Usually used by people under their clothes in cold countries.
In the United States, it is usually made of cotton or cotton-polyester-blend with a texture of the weave-box, although some varieties are also made of flannel, especially the union suit, while many new varieties are made of polyester, such as the trade name of Capilene.
European producers use a mixture of wool or even 100% wool, usually Merino or other high quality wool. Some models may include a thin layer of polyester to transport moisture from the skin. Wool, other than as a fire retardant, provides very effective insulation and will maintain its insulating properties even when wet, in contrast to cotton.
The type known as "underwear" is made of two layers of fabric both of wool and artificial fibers, only wool or - again mostly in the US - two layers of only artificial fibers, using trapped body heat to isolate against cold air.
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The etymology of "long johns"
The manufacturing foundations of the long johns may be located in Derbyshire, England, at John Smedley's Lea Mills, located in Matlock. The company has a legacy of 225 years and is said to have created a garment, supposedly named after the late 19th century heavyweight boxer John L. Sullivan; the company still produces a long nose.
In 2004, Michael Quinion, an English etymologist and author, postulated that "john" in apparel items might be a reference to Sullivan, who wore similar-looking clothing in the ring. This explanation, however, is uncertain and the origin of the term is ultimately unknown. So it is also very likely that it is merely a deformation of "longues jambes" meaning "long legs" in French.
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History of long johns
Longevity was first introduced to England in the 17th century, but they did not become popular as nightwear until the 18th century. They are said to be called long johns after a famous blade fighter who fought in trousers. They were first used as a loungewear but later became popular as sleepwear. Children also wear long johns as nightwear, usually made of cotton and polyester.
The customizable two-piece design is credited to Myles Stanfield, originating from Truro, Nova Scotia, which patented its design on December 7, 1915. In 1898, Myles and his brother John had developed a product called Stanfield's Clothes for Stanfield's, their outfit manufacturing company.
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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