Cold spell and flu bring underclothes back in vogue

Amid the energy saving movement, together with the prevalence of the H1N1 flu virus, people are arming themselves with underclothes to keep warm.

Department stores have recently seen a jump in the sales of warm winter clothes.

The total sales of winter clothing over the past weekend were 30-40 percent higher than that of last year, said a Shinsegae Department Store official.

Fur items and hats topped the list with a 193 percent and 104 percent increase, respectively, and underclothes followed with 67 percent.

Other department stores, including Lotte and Hyundai, also saw similar sales increases of 40 percent or more over the past month, according to employees.



"The soaring sales of the winter underclothes are largely contributing to the November sales," said a department store employee.

"People are after practical winter clothing which should keep them warm and help protect against contracting H1N1 flu, especially as the recent cold spell has boosted the concerns about the virus."

Underclothes were considered crucial winter items in the past but have fell out of trend as interior temperatures rose and thinner outlines became popular, especially among young women.



"We used to make fun of friends who would wear thick, unshapely underclothes in winter, but thin and fashionable items have become easily accessible nowadays," said Park Ji-hye, a 26-year-old company worker living in Seoul.

"I can feel warmer and safer from the flu, without looking bad."

Underclothes are more than just an extra inner layer, experts said.

"Wearing underclothes raises one`s body temperature by about three degrees Celsius, which will eventually save 1.8 trillion won ($1.56 billion) in heating costs," said an official of the Public Administration and Security Ministry.

The president and the Cabinet also joined the trend.

The temperature in the Cabinet meeting room yesterday was kept at 19 degrees Celsius, and President Lee Myung-bak and Cabinet ministers wore underclothes and vests to keep themselves warm.

"I have been wearing underclothes for a few days," said the president during the meeting. "It may be a little awkward in the beginning but turns out to be warm and comfortable."

(tellme@heraldm.com)



By Bae Hyun-jung