I love bringing you guys new brands. A new one that just came onto the international market is Mr. Smith. It’s a brand I think you guys will love. This what they told us about the brand:

Men’s underwear is nothing new. First introduced just over a hundred years ago to solve the problem of men’s anatomy and bicycles, it’s evolved significantly. Over the years men’s smalls have become more interesting and a staple fashion item for many a young chap’s wardrobe. But the model of new underwear brands is often very much the same. That is, think of a name, send it to a factory somewhere and let them deal with it all for you.

Not the case for young entrepreneur Craig, who has made it his mission over recent years to champion the UK textile industry and find another way.

Following the decline of the UK’s textile manufacturing sector, the number of British clothing factories has diminished to a fraction of its former presence. Where once, towns in the north would have a factory on most street corners, now they lay scattered about the country, specializing in their own field.

Presented with the problem of large initial orders and the prospect of having to deal with import agencies starting out, Craig decided on a different route; do it yourself.

Based from his small factory in the heart of Yorkshire, Craig has created a lean but efficient production facility based within a still-working yarn mill.  Equipping the factory with all of the necessary machines to do the job from savings and working alongside, he opened the factory 9 years ago, designing and making for other small brands along the way. A long-term dream he set out with; to do better and to do it here in Britain was finally underway.

Craig began his life in underwear manufacturing by launching his first brand, Bum-Chums, a quirky brand aimed towards the LGBT market, filling a niche. He was insistent that as much of the manufacturing should be done in the UK as possible. From the knitting of the cloth in Nottingham, the dying of the cloth in Huddersfield and the making of the Elastic in the midlands, the running theme was to support the UK textile industry. Making the underwear himself was just the natural extension of that model.

So launching Mr Smith’s, very much a mass-market underwear brand really is the natural evolution for him.

After spending time learning the craft and perfecting the shapes and fit of his men’s underwear designs, Craig launched the initial collection of Mr Smith’s in February of this year.  Creating Mr Smith’s Underwearto be a heritage brand with a real sense of provenance, Craig set the foundations for a brand he hopes will see the test of time and rejuvenate the British Textile trade.

Already, he is working on the second collection, which Craig says will see the introduction of colour to the current monochromatic palate. “Colour is important with underwear, as are prints. Many men like me base their look for the day based on the underwear they select.” Craig suggests.

With new styles that the brand says has been designed and engineered to fit, enhance, support and complement the masculine physique.

Mr Smith’s Underwear can be found online at mrsmithsunderwear.co.ukand Craig tells us that he is currently in discussion with a number of boutique stores on the high street as well as online too. The Mr Smith’s debut collection includes men’s Trunk and Brief styles of underwear and they’re priced at just £18. The product is great value, especially considering it’s a British-Made item.