One Hot Mesh

Designer Ryan McKillop of Mckillop Brand U/W (the "U/W" stands for "underwear") has been a busy guy. His brightly colored, silky mesh briefs, jocks and thongs have become hugely popular over the last year. Indeed, since we last featured McKillop U/W on Gay.net, he and his models have made numerous club appearances, shot multiple photo shoots (incuding the pics you see here), and now he's designed a new line.

The Modal collection features similar cuts to last year's, but the fabric is less see-through, making it more legal for guys to offer someone a "peak" while wearing them out to a bar. Highly breathable, super comfortable, with some pretty solid support and an elastic strap that pushes your package forward, these might become even more popular than McKillop's original line. So we took a second to ask the designer about his new gear.

Why the move to non-shear?
There are a lot of men out there who would like [more] coverage. I thought about a sports mesh and other fabrics like cotton but that didn't last too long once I found modal. Modal is a sustainable fabric that is environmentally responsible and so incredibly soft to the touch that when I made samples no one wanted to put their own underwear back on. Because of that popularity I have designed all 2012 items with these two new fabrics.

What excited you about this new line?
The Classic 2.0 wasn't really planned. I was so focused on the upcoming brief that I forgot that our core pouch client; once I sourced the fabrics for the 2012 brief I decided to work backwards and give our customers what they really wanted, and fast!

The Classic 2.0 comes from listening to all of our customers. I made the pouch bigger, chose posh new elastics, and made them softer. All of these components are making Mckillop UW a more luxurious brand.

You've names the 2012 collection "Elevate." Why is that?
I have designed a better bulge for our underwear, the 2012 items elevate your backside, and more importantly because I would like to welcome our customers on our journey. This is not just for our products but for everyone at Mckillop UW— we are elevating who we are. The way we dress, the way we act, the way we offer customers service, and our standards of quality. And we have started changing a little early with the Classic 2.0.

How long does it take for you to develop a new line?
The Classic 2.0 was a bit of a surprise but the real work was a bi-product of a two-year quest to make the best brief on the market. A Mckillop product takes years to create and the reason is that I chose the best. Most people wouldn't really know all the decisions a designer like myself goes through to find the best and to stay focused on the attention to detail. My biggest struggle is being surrounded with people who just want me to cut a corner to save a buck. But that is not how I run things. I would rather be a small brand with a quality following then be in every big box store selling $6.00 undies that fall apart after two washes.

Over the past two years I have sampled different elastics from eight factories around the world and finally found our new branded Mckillop waistbands last April. I have flown to three countries to find our mesh and modal, which I found actually close to home in Los Angeles, and this has inspired us to bring all production back to North America. I made our samples in June, flew back to LA to have our photo shoot, three months in production, and now I can proudly can offer them to you.

Do you "test" the style before making them?
There is a professional response and an honest one, so here is the real scoop. Basically I lock myself away in my home studio and sew hundreds of samples, testing out different cuts, styles, fits and fabrics, running between the sewing machine and the mirror, using myself as a fit model. So yes, I run around naked most of time. Once it feels great, looks amazing, and "gets me going" then I know it's worthwhile sending it for our in-house production samples. (This part of the process is not nearly as fun as the running around naked part.) Then I get the public to test the underwear. Once they have the public and my seal of approval, then off to production they go.

Do guys only wear these for hitting clubs or getting turned on?
I have a really unique demographic that loves Mckillop UW jocks and pouches, and it is so diverse that I cannot pigeon hole our clientele. I have a wide range of ages from 24-50 and from many financial backgrounds. Some wear a pouch with a tuxedo to show off their rear and [other] guys who wear them at the gym because you do not have restrictions on leg extensions. Some wear them in porn. So for most companies they pick one customer and ignore the rest and I made a decision at the beginning that I was going to be accepting to all types of guys, and to find a common thread in all men to focus our efforts on.

GET THEM

Classic 2.0 Pouch is available at www.topdrawers.com, www.dealbyethan.com, www.pacificjock.com and McKillop's new online store.
FOLLOW THEM
Website: www.MCKUW.com
Twitter @MckillopUW
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Mckillop-UW-Underwear