Jockey turns 150 – and the legend reinvents the undie drawer

What makes a company survive and thrive for 150 years? The ability to innovate without losing your values – something Jockey’s new 150th Anniversary Edit, headlined by the VentraCool Air™ line, does with style.

Hands up if you own Jockey underwear. The answer is probably yes – and for good reason. For 150 years, Jockey has been a legend in the underwear world, and for 75 of those years the company has been producing and selling underwear in South Africa. The popular brand celebrated its milestone birthday in August with a swanky party in Cape Town, and ALL THAT was invited.

Happy birthday, to a true legend

The venue: gorgeous. The food: out of this world! But the best part of the party was seeing the launch of the 150th Anniversary Edit with its innovative fabrics. Yes, we do wear a lot of cotton underwear and we always will, but in some situations, certain fabrics perform better than cotton. Jockey’s VentraCool Air™ line is a game-changer.

Why the 150th Anniversary Edit Matters

The limited-edition 150th Anniversary Edit, available in South Africa from September 2026, brings together the silhouettes that built the brand’s reputation alongside genuinely new fabrications – including the standout VentraCool Air™ collection that is the real talking point of the range.

The collection looks both backwards and forwards, and that is precisely the right instinct. “The Anniversary Edit is ultimately a story of progression,” says Nombuso Ncapai, Marketing Manager at Jockey South Africa. “It taps into a renewed appreciation for heritage and archival design, with selected elements referencing Jockey’s history while being reinterpreted through contemporary fabrics, fits and construction.”

And this is exactly what Jockey has striven for. “Generations of South Africans have grown up knowing and wearing Jockey. But longevity alone isn’t enough,” Ncapai adds. “To remain relevant, you have to keep listening, learning and evolving with your consumer while protecting the values that made them trust you in the first place.”

Worth noting: the VentraCool Air™ line is a major global launch for the Jockey brand, not just a South African anniversary add-on. It is being positioned as the brand’s flagship performance-fabric innovation for 2026, and wow, it shows!

The technology: What VentraCool Air™ actually does

Before we get into the individual styles, it helps to understand what makes VentraCool Air™ different from your standard moisture-wicking fabric, because it is genuinely a step further.

Most performance underwear relies on moisture-wicking technology alone. VentraCool Air™ layers two systems on top of each other. The first is DUAL VENT™ technology – a patent-pending feature that uses laser-cut ventilation to maximise airflow and speed up evaporation. Where standard underwear traps heat and moves moisture away from the skin slowly, the DUAL VENT™ system creates strategic airflow zones that accelerate the whole process.

The second layer is StayCool+® moisture-wicking technology, which handles perspiration management at the fabric level. Together, the two work as a system: StayCool+ draws sweat away from the skin, and the ventilation structure helps it evaporate faster. Anti-odour technology rounds it out, so the freshness lasts through whatever the day throws at you.

An added detail worth flagging: both the men’s and women’s styles are made predominantly from recycled polyester, which means the performance credentials come with a lower environmental footprint. That is not a gimmick – recycled polyester performs comparably to virgin polyester in moisture management and durability. Here are a few of the stand-out styles.

The Men’s Style: VentraCool Air™ Trunk

The men’s VentraCool Air™ Trunk is built around a supportive sport pouch, breathable mesh cooling zones, and the DUAL VENT™ technology in the pouch panel. The fit is athletic without being restrictive – designed to move with you rather than shift and bunch.

Fabric composition

Body: 90% Recycled Polyester, 10% Elastane | Mesh panels: 79% Recycled Polyester, 18% Elastane, 3% Polyester | Inner pouch: 73% Polyamide, 27% Elastane.

The polyamide inner pouch lining is a smart call – polyamide (nylon) is naturally softer against the skin than polyester and adds a touch of compression that supports without constricting.

Best for

Gym sessions, outdoor activities, long workdays in warm weather, and anyone who runs hot. Also an excellent choice for South African summers, full stop.

Worth knowing

The sport pouch fit is generous and supportive, but if you prefer a flatter, less structured front panel, this may not be your preference for everyday casual wear. The fabric is also available in a brief and Jock Strap style.

The Women’s Style: VentraCool Air™ Bikini

The women’s version takes a different but equally considered approach. Rather than mesh panels, the VentraCool Air™ Bikini uses laser-cut ventilation – perforations cut directly into the fabric – to promote airflow without adding bulk or creating visible texture under clothing.

The smooth waistband and ultra-soft stretch construction mean it sits flat and stays put, which is precisely what you want from a style intended to be worn through movement. No rolling, no digging in.

Fabric composition

90% Recycled Polyester, 10% Elastane.

Best for

Workouts, warmer months, and anyone who finds standard cotton bikini underwear uncomfortable in heat or during exercise. The seamless-adjacent finish makes it a solid option under fitted clothing too.

Worth knowing

At 90% recycled polyester, this is a performance fabric – not a cotton replacement for days when you want something breathable and natural. The two serve different purposes, and for different moods or occasions, you will likely want both in your drawer.

Also in the Range: VentraCool Air™ Bralette

For low-impact days – think hot yoga, Pilates, or simply navigating a sweltering South African summer – the VentraCool Air™ Bralette makes a compelling case for itself. Like the bikini, it uses laser-cut ventilation rather than added mesh panels, so airflow is built into the fabric itself rather than sitting on top of it. Paired with StayCool+® technology to wick sweat away from the skin, the result is a bralette that genuinely earns the word “breathable” rather than just printing it on the label. The construction is soft and stretchy – 90% Recycled Polyester, 10% Elastane – with a flexible fit that moves with you rather than restricting you.

Best for

Warm-weather workouts, studio classes, and relaxed active days. It is a natural pairing with the bikini if you are building a full VentraCool Air™ set.

Worth knowing

This is a light-support bralette, not a high-impact sports bra. If you need serious hold for running or HIIT, look elsewhere. For everything from Pilates to a walk on the promenade, though, it hits the mark.

ALL THAT’s verdict

The 150th Anniversary Edit is not just a birthday marketing exercise – the VentraCool Air™ range justifies its inclusion on merit. The layered approach to cooling (ventilation plus moisture-wicking, not just one or the other) is a meaningful step up from standard performance underwear, and the recycled polyester construction adds a sustainability dimension without sacrificing comfort.

If you already own Jockey basics and want to see what the brand’s fabrication can do at its most technical, this is the range to try. For those new to performance underwear entirely, it is an accessible entry point from a brand with enough of a track record to trust the fit.

Shop the Jockey 150th Anniversary Edit at jockey.co.za

This article was not sponsored. All opinions are those of the editorial team.