It must have been an odd event – 350 people gathered, looked into the camera, and shouted “Briefs!”. The 350 people were employees of Jockey International Inc., and they were celebrating the 75^th anniversary of the invention of men’s briefs.

Otherwise known as “Tighty-whiteys”, briefs were invented after an executive of the company received a postcard from the French Riviera showing a man wearing a bikini-style swimsuit. The executive, Arthur Kneibler, thought the style would work as underwear, and a legend was born.

But how does one celebrate the birthday of an underwear type? The Milwaukee Sentinel was there to report:

The celebration at the company’s Kenosha headquarters included a fried chicken lunch, a ceremonial signing by employees of several pairs of the largest briefs Jockey makes (waist size: 60), and the group photo. Everyone received free mini-brief key rings and folding chairs, which they used to view an outdoor “Jockey’s got talent” show in the park across from the headquarters.

So here’s to the venerable “tighty-whitey” (I never thought I’d say that), and many more birthdays.