Why I Started Bear Threads

Let me start with something that shouldn’t feel controversial—but somehow still does:

Men’s bodies deserve to be shown off.

Yeah, I said it.

I'm JD — founder of Bear Threads, gay immigrant, certified beard enthusiast, and the guy who got fed up walking through clothing stores wondering why the women's section got all the fun while the men's section was a sea of baggy shorts and boxy board shorts designed to hide everything.

Not only are options for men often boring, society almost demands it. I remember shopping with a few friends in a department store and I (of course) was looking at underwear and got a boxed pair of tight white boxer briefs and I remember my friends snickering that I picked something form fitting, rather than a pair of baggy boxer shorts.

For years I bought what was available and wore what was expected. And then at some point I stopped.

What's really frustrating is how long I waited to embrace something different. I was in my 40s before I realized shorts could be tight, that I could rock a swim brief rather than board shorts that fell below the knee. And you know what? Showing my thighs, or being OK with my bulge showing in shorts or a swim brief, is a great feeling. I feel more comfortable embracing my body, than I ever felt trying to hide it.

That frustration is what built Bear Threads. I wanted swimwear that acknowledged I was a man, with all the parts that a man has. Swimwear designed to enhance rather than hide. Bold colors. A pouch that actually does its job. Sizing that goes up to 3XL because confidence isn't one size fits all.

We launched in Spring 2025 and I've been wearing my own product ever since — at the pool, on cruises, at the beach, and anywhere else I can get away with it.

So what is Beards & Briefs?

It's this blog. It's where I'm going to write about all the things that Bear Threads is really about:

• Men's swimwear and how to wear it without overthinking it
• Body positivity for bear men — the real, unfiltered version
• Gym life, personal progress, and what it actually looks like to work on yourself
• Gay travel, cruises, and the best places to show off your briefs
• Behind the scenes of building a small brand from scratch
• And honestly, whatever else is on my mind

I've also been lucky enough to talk about this stuff on a few podcasts, and I'll be sharing those conversations here too.

I believe men's bodies are beautiful. Bears, otters, daddies, cubs — all of it. And I built Bear Threads because I wanted us to have more options to show that off.

This blog is the conversation that goes along with the brand. Pull up a chair. The bear is talking.

🐻 JD