- Associated Press - Wednesday, May 7, 2014

PITTSBURGH (AP) - They are un-“men”-tionables worth mentioning.

Men want undergarments that are high-quality, comfortable and fun, just like women do.

That is the thought of Thomas West and his business partner, Adam Childers, who opened Trim, a guy’s store for fashionable underwear, T-shirts, socks and swimwear in East Liberty. The nearly 700-square-foot space opened in April.

“Underwear is still taboo for some people, but I try to make everyone feel comfortable when they come into this store,” West says. “You shouldn’t feel intimidated buying underwear. Men like to be stylish and nicely dressed, too, just like women do. And that doesn’t stop at the top layer. There is more than just one layer when getting dressed. Good underwear can help you feel good in both the bedroom and the boardroom. Men feel better when they are wearing good underwear.”

Yes, they do, says customer Collin Hartung of Monongahela.

“I love underwear,” Hartung says. “I probably spend more on underwear than anything else. The selection here is great, and you feel better when you wear good underwear, just like women feel better when they are wearing a good bra.”

Undergarments are items that are best to select in person - rather than online - so you can feel the fabrics, West says. He says he has tried every brand he sells, so he can answer customer inquiries about a particular product.

The T-shirt lines he carries include Dead Bury Dead and Steel City Cotton works. He is in the process of adding the Likewise collection - all local companies.

Swimwear brands encompass Andrew Christian, Pistol Pete, Clever and BWET. His socks merchandise is from Happy Socks and Arthur George, which was created by Rob Kardashian.

There are boxers and briefs from Pistol Pete, Clever, Unico, Timoteo, James Tudor, Swag & Valor, 2eros and Andrew Christian. He says he is the only local store to carry the Pump! line within 400 miles.

Underwear prices range from $14 to $33, while socks cost $12 to $25.

The shop doesn’t cater only to men: West has hosted bachelorette parties where women bought items for the men in their lives.

West, who was born in Greene County, was a TV news producer worked for several stations across the country, as well as here at WPXI-TV.

West, who recently moved back to Pittsburgh, and Childers loved the shop space the minute they saw it. They did some of the interior work themselves, including building the shelving. They kept the original hardwood flooring and stained-glass window.

“I love when someone looks through the window and sees an item they like,” West says. “There wasn’t a store like this in Pittsburgh, so we wanted to bring this kind of store to this city. This is a dream come true for me.”

Pittsburgh is the perfect place for this venture, he says.

“East Liberty is really growing, and we wanted to be a part of that growth,” West says. “There is good energy in this area. We also want to do our part to give back to this community, as well. I want people to feel at ease when they walk in the store. Just because someone doesn’t see the item you buy, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t want it.”

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Online:

https://bit.ly/1oq5G1j

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Information from: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, https://pghtrib.com

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