Ionic+™ is the name of the silver yarn that is woven into our SilverSport fabric. This means our fabric is permanently embedded with silver so that the antimicrobial benefits last the lifetime of the garment. This is unlike other brands that use a topical chemical finish that can wash off in ~10 washes. 

Why did we add silver to underwear? Our nether regions sweat, especially during a workout. Sweat can rapidly increase bacterial and fungal growth that can lead to unwanted odor, irritation and even infection. We embedded our SilverSport fabric with silver technology to minimize those risks (like skin irritation, UTI’s, and yeast infections) and keep you feeling fresh. Also, as we exercise, thongs can ultimately shift around and end up moving bacteria from our anus to our vulva – adding silver to underwear can be the assist some of us need against these unwanted microbes.

How does it actually work? When activated, silver eliminates bacteria and fungi on the fabric. The silver is activated by your sweat to release positive ions. As the ions diffuse throughout the moist area of the fabric, they naturally eliminate the bacteria and fungi. Our silver diffuses in the fabric only and does not leach onto the skin. It only eliminates bacteria that is on the fabric. Ionic+™ silver tech is made with ions that can be found in water, land and sea and does not contain nanoparticles.

In addition to the medical community, silver has been used for its antimicrobial properties by NASA, the US Military, and Olympic athletes. Silver is self-cleaning, so it is also being used in clothing as a sustainability effort to reduce the amount of time one can go between washes – though we still recommend washing after each wear based on the intimate nature of underwear. 

As a premium antimicrobial solution, silver was the natural technology choice for use in Netherlin sports underwear. Let us know if you have any questions about silver!