Over the long term, advertising can create a market (within reason). This is probably more true of SUVs and trucks than of underwear though. SUVs and Trucks (as more than farm vehicles) were promoted when automakers petitioned for a loophole in the CAFE (fuel economy) regulations for Trucks (you know, for the "farmer") and pretty much invented the SUV market (before that there were Jeeps and, uh LandRovers) and expanded that little corner of the market from about 2% to over 50% (but it took about 10-15 years to really fully develop). Most of this was done by implying that a mans balls would get bigger if he drove a truck or an SUV (or smaller if he didn't). Just remember all of those commercials with big, young, muscled, tanned, and sweaty guys drivng about 6mph over boulder-strewn fields and through giant mud puddles and then getitng out of their trucks (in slow motion) to congradulate other guys who got there the same way. Yeah, we all commute at 60mph over rock-strewn field and through giant mud puddles (but man, those guys sure lookes manly doing its....).

And what do cars have to do with underwear? Well, lingerie is on the LEADING EDGE of colour fashion. Want to see what color cars we will be driving in 5 years? - just go to VS and look at the lingerie. This is a true tricke-down effect. Really!