Hanes vs Fruit of the Loom: Everything You Need To Know

When it comes to underwear, there are countless choices that are available on the market today. And while luxury brands from all over the world produce a wide range of boxers, briefs, boxer briefs, undershirts, tanks, and more in a plethora of styles, colors, cuts, and fabrics, two brands are truly synonymous with underwear and undershirts: Fruit of the Loom and Hanes. 

So, what exactly are the differences between the two companies that were both founded over a century ago? Read on for everything you need to know about Fruit of the Loom and Hanes, including each company’s history, the very subtle differences between the brands, and of course, must-have staples from each brand. 

What Is Hanes?

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Hanes is a brand founded by John Welsey Hanes and has been around since the early 1900s. The company originally made socks for only babies and men, which seems like a very, very niche market. Thankfully, they expanded their product line over the last century and now produce underwear, undershirts, athletic wear, sweatpants, sweatshirts, thermals, sleep sets, tank tops, and pretty much any type of undergarment or loungewear item you can think of for men, women, and kids. 

In 2006, HanesBrands was created, and over the last decade and a half, the ever-growing company has acquired a slew of other name brands to add to its lineup, including Champion, Maidenform, DIM, Bali, Playtex, Leggs, Bonds, and more, and are dedicated to their mission of being the “socially responsible leading marketer of everyday basic apparel in the Americas, Europe, Australia, and Asia-Pacific.”

Hanes is also the “only apparel producer to ever be honored for its workplace practices in Central America and the Caribbean by the Great Place to Work Institute and has been named Forbes Best Large Employer,” and is “an 11-time honoree of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star” as well, which means if you’re looking for a company that takes pride in protecting its workers and the environment, Hanes is right up your alley. 

What Is Fruit of the Loom?

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Fruit of the Loom is another well-established clothing company that produces a wide range of underwear, undershirts, athletic apparel, socks, activewear, thermals, sleepwear, and more. The company was founded in 1851 after brothers Benjamin Knight and Robert Knight bought their first textile mill in Warwick, Rhode Island, who then trademarked Fruit of the Loom in 1871, which actually makes it one of the world’s oldest brands. And if you really want to blow your own mind and put that into perspective, Fruit of the Loom is a trademark that is older than the automobile, telephones, and even lightbulbs and electricity. 

More than a century and a half later, Fruit of the Loom remains one of the leading global companies in underwear, t-shirts, casual clothing, loungewear, and sleepwear. The company proudly boasts that they have over 28,000 employees working for them around the globe. And of course, Fruit of the Loom is known for its iconic logo that’s synonymous with the brand – you can’t tell us you don’t think of Fruit of the Loom when you see a picture of a basket of fruit now, can you?

What Are the Key Differences Between Hanes and Fruit of the Loom?

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Here’s the thing: there’s no way to pinpoint the exact key differences between the Fruit of the Loom and Hanes because it essentially comes down to the buyer and wearer’s personal preference. You know how some people are Coke people, and others are Team Pepsi for life? It’s like that. 

Both brands offer a wide variety of underwear, including boxers, boxer briefs, and traditional briefs of all sorts of different cuts, styles, colors, materials, and fits. Fruit of the Loom has a large selection of underwear available in different fabrics, like 100% cotton and fabric that boasts four-way stretch, as well as fabrics that control odor, are moisture-wicking, and are breathable. 

Hanes also makes boxer briefs, briefs, bikinis, and more in different fabrics, like X-Temp, which will keep you cool and dry all day long and offers four-way stretch for maximum comfort, and FlexFit cotton/modal, which is moisture-wicking and gives extra support for all-day comfort. Both Hanes and Fruit of the Loom also offer undershirts in different styles and cuts, including tank tops, crew neck shirts, and v-neck shirts. 

One tangible difference between the two brands is that Hanes seemingly has a larger variety of clothing options to choose from, including polo shirts, sleep sets, sweatshirts that go beyond the basic crew neck or hoodie, and because we’re living in a never-ending hell that is the coronavirus pandemic, three-ply masks. 

Must Have Hanes Underwear

If you think Hanes is the underwear brand for you, check out the Hanes Ultimate® Men’s Comfort Flex Fit® Cotton/Modal Boxer Briefs Assorted 3-Pack, which are made from an ultra-soft blend of cotton and modal for all-day comfort from sunrise to sundown (and beyond), are breathable, designed to wick moisture away, and come in a variety of colors for a little extra something underneath. 

As far as undershirts go, you can’t go wrong with the Hanes Men’s FreshIQ® ComfortSoft® V-Neck Undershirt 6-Pack, which has odor-fighting technology to ensure that you stay fresh all day, and is made from ultra-soft fabric that’ll keep you comfortable whether you’re sleeping, chilling around the house, or wearing it under a button down.

Bonus: there are no itchy tags on their products, so you’ll truly stay comfortable any time you sport Hanes.

Must Have Fruit of the Loom Underwear

If you think you’re more of a Fruit of the Loom type of person, check out the Men’s CoolZone Fly Black and Gray Boxer Briefs, which feature a moisture-wicking technology and a breathable mesh fly to keep you cool and dry throughout the day, legs that won’t ride up, and have more than enough support for all-day comfort and no pinching. 

For those who prefer to wear tanks as undershirts, peep the Fruit of the Loom Men’s Cotton White A-Shirts, which are made from a super soft, 100% cotton ribbed fabric that hugs your body without constricting it, is extra-long so your shirt stays tucked in all day, and wicks away moisture so you can keep cool and dry no matter where you are or what you’re doing. 

The important thing to remember when choosing between Fruit of the Loom and Hanes is that it really comes down to personal preference – and hey, who says you can’t have items from each brand? Mix and match to your heart’s content, and don’t be afraid to play around with the brands and their products to figure out which one works and feels best for you.