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This article is about the men's underwear brand. For the pathological condition in cattle, see Bovine virus diarrhea. For the Dutch security service, see General Intelligence and Security Service.
BVD
Company typeSubsidiary
Industryunderwear
Founded1876
HeadquartersUnited States
Productsunderwear
OwnerBerkshire Hathaway
Websitehttp://www.bvd.com/

BVD is a brand of men's underwear, which are commonly referred to as "BVDs." BVD stands for Bradley, Voorhees & Day, the New York City firm that initially manufactured underwear of this name for both men and women. BVD is now only for men. It was founded in 1876 and named for its three founders.[1]

History

BVD first manufactured bustles for women. They then became famous for their men's union suits made of heavy knitted fabric. In 1908, that bulky and tight fitting garment was turned into a new kind of loose fitting underwear. They went on to introduce a two-piece and the popular union suit,[citation needed] as well as a lightweight waffle-like fabric with the advertising slogan, "Next to Myself I Like BVD Best."[1]

At the beginning of the 1930s BVD was purchased by the Atlas Underwear company located in Piqua, Ohio. During the Great Depression they were successful in manufacturing swimsuits for men, women and children. They patented their own fabric, Sea Satin, a rayon woven satin backed with latex for stretch. They also used knits of cotton, wool and Rayon, and cellophane.Their swimsuits featured in major fashion magazines and high fashion stores. Styles included form fitting maillots as well as full skirted swimsuits. They offered suits for men with detachable tops. In 1929, Olympic swimmer Johnny Weissmuller, who went on to become the most famous Tarzan in motion pictures, was hired as a model and representative. He was featured at swim shows throughout the country wearing the BVD brand of swimsuits, handing out leaflets and giving autographs.[citation needed]

In 1951, the brand was purchased by Superior Mills. BVD was first to start packaging underwear in plastic bags for the mass market. In the 1960s and 1970s, they started introducing sportops, a pocket T-shirt, and fashionable underwear made of nylon.[citation needed] In 1976, BVD was purchased by Fruit of the Loom, which brought the brand to a worldwide market.[citation needed] On April 9, 2002, Berkshire Hathaway purchased Fruit of the Loom.[2]

The term "BVDs" has become, over time, a genericized trademark in reference to any brand of underwear.[citation needed]

In other languages

In Ecuadorian and Peruvian Spanish, the term bividí, pronounced like the English initials, is an eponym for a man's sleeveless underwear T-shirt.[citation needed]

See also

Look up BVDs in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Notes

  1. ^ a b "Fruit of the Loom - BVD". Retrieved 2008-07-28.
  2. ^ "Acquisition of Fruit of the Loom Apparel Business Completed". Retrieved -28-07-2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/stanley-adams-p50468/songs
  4. ^ http://www.humpnightthumpers.com/songs/Coney%20Island%20Washboard%20Roundelay.pdf
  5. ^ http://www.lyrics007.com/Ella%20Fitzgerald%20Lyrics/Hard%20Heart%20Hannah%20Lyrics.html
  6. ^ "BVDs Camp Song". Retrieved -14-07-2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  7. ^ "Psychopathics from Outer Space Part 3".


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