CDLP vs YUASA: Same Fabric, Different Attitude

Two design-led underwear labels built on the same fabric, with almost nothing else in common.

Most men gave up on underwear a long time ago. You know the deal: buy the multipack from Amazon, wear it until it’s falling apart, and replace it with another multipack. Repeat.

CDLP and YUASA are betting you're ready to reconsider. They both share a core belief: the first thing you put on every morning deserves as much attention as what you layer over it.

This was never going to be a story about cheap versus expensive. 

Both brands live firmly in the premium category. Both are founder-led. Both obsess over materials, fit, and design.

The real difference isn't quality, it’s personality.

If you're looking for a CDLP alternative, or simply wondering how these two premium brands compare, here's what sets them apart.

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First, what they agree on…

Both brands began with founders who believed men's essentials deserved better.

CDLP approached that challenge through Scandinavian design, technical innovation, and restrained essentials. 

YUASA started from a more personal place. Founder Michael Yuasa wanted to create clothing that belonged in the moments people look forward to. Slow mornings. Time at the beach. Travel. Lounging. Connection. 

For YUASA, it meant creating clothing that belonged in life's slower, more beautiful moments. Time at the beach, long, slow afternoons, and good design that doesn't take itself too seriously.

They have different origin stories, but landed on surprisingly similar ground.

Both craft much of their men's lyocell underwear from the same premium fabric, a wood-based fiber that's softer than cotton, naturally breathable, and exceptionally good at holding its shape.

Above all, both reject the idea that underwear is an afterthought. They treat it as part of a considered wardrobe that makes you feel good in your skin.

So if you already own CDLP and someone points you toward YUASA, you're not abandoning one philosophy for another. You’re looking at two thoughtful approaches to premium essentials. 

Just one with a little more playfulness.

CDLP: the Stockholm minimalist

CDLP launched in Stockholm in 2016 and has never felt the need to go bold for attention.

Everything is pared back:
  • A monochrome palette 
  • Clean silhouettes
  • Branding that stays in the background
  • Simple packaging

The CDLP appeal is restraint. Imagine a tonal waistband with just enough sheen, and campaigns featuring the founders' own friends instead of traditional models.

That, and their underwear that slips effortlessly into a wardrobe built around timeless essentials.

If your closet is mostly black, navy, crisp white, and beautifully cut essentials, CDLP already speaks your language.

YUASA: the Brooklyn flirt

YUASA launched in Brooklyn in 2018, and while the personality is warmer, the underwear itself is more restrained than you might expect.

Like CDLP, the core collection leans into clean colors, minimal branding, and thoughtful proportions. The same luxurious lyocell is the foundation for everything, creating an everyday collection that feels refined instead of flashy.

But YUASA doesn’t abandon minimalism. It softens it.

The Japanese-American perspective behind the brand brings a little more warmth, a little more ease, and a sense that beautiful clothing should also be fun to live in. That ethos is even clearer once you step into the swim collection.

Here’s where the brand lets loose. Seasonal illustrated prints are offered alongside classic solids. The swim shorts range from relaxed 7.5-inch styles to shorter cuts. And the collection even includes a genuine swim thong for customers who want something more daring.

The collection is just as curated as CDLP's, but it leaves a little more room for play.

What sets them apart?

Strip away the fabric specs and the final decision comes down to personality.

CDLP feels disciplined. YUASA feels inviting. Both are minimal, but CDLP stays cooler and more restrained while YUASA introduces a little more sensuality and playfulness.

Both value simplicity, but they express it differently. CDLP perfects the essentials. YUASA keeps its underwear equally clean while expanding into body-conscious styles like the Lyocell Sport Brief, a modern men's lyocell boxer brief, alongside the Hip Brief and Carbon Mesh collection.

CDLP designs exceptional basics. YUASA designs for a way of living. The products change, but the feeling stays remarkably consistent.

CDLP feels carefully curated. YUASA feels a little more playful. Both are deeply considered. One simply doesn’t mind having a little more fun.

When comparing CDLP vs YUASA, you’ll find they both use the same premium foundation for their menswear, but approach it with slightly different attitudes.

So, which one?

Choose CDLP if: you're drawn to Scandinavian minimalism, and essentials that seamlessly disappear into your capsule wardrobe.

Choose YUASA if: you appreciate that same premium foundation but want a brand with a little more personality. If you're looking for an alternative to CDLP, YUASA offers a similar refined approach with a slightly more playful POV, and at a slightly lower price point.

YUASA underwear stay refreshingly minimal. The swimwear opens the door to bolder colours, illustrated prints, and more adventurous silhouettes. 

Throughout it all, the brand never loses sight of its north star: menswear for an unusually beautiful life.

For anyone who appreciates designer men's underwear, both brands are worth considering. The decision simply comes down to which philosophy feels more like your own.

A great place to start is the Lyocell Sport Brief or the Short-Cut Boxers.

Spend one summer day in them. You’ll never go back to the multipack again.

Shop YUASA Lyocell Underwear