I have a few and like them, but am I the only one who feels extorted by the price? $18 was bad enough, but now they're $20?! Please tell me Patagonia's profit margin on this item and/or convince me that the materials and work that goes into making them really justify the price.

I'm sold. I'm a guy, too. Ordering now. Oops, only XS. Looks like I'll have to get a lacy print. Oh well.

Thanks for a great response. It's important to remind ourselves that quality comes with a premium, and it's the desire to pay as little as possible and buy as much as possible that is perpetuating our disposable culture. I bought the 2 pairs back in 2001 for my long distance backpacking trips to Alaska. I'm still wearing them today and they are good as new.

Great response! What other company offers such moral ethics?

To be honest, this is truly the cost of doing business at Patagonia. We have self-imposed, unique environmental standards we must uphold in the production of each garment we make and yes that does cost a bit more money compared to others who produce similar garments. It doesn't help that transportation fees due to the increase in petroleum costs have quadrupled in the last 2 years.Also, on this particular brief there is some cutting edge technology behind it... If you purchased a print or print hit, the application process is proprietary to the factory we use and what we love about it is, the print won't flake off after a years worth of washings. We are the only company in the outdoor industry who has access to this technology. Plus the production location is in my opinion the best seamless factory in the world. Sure, it's only a panty to most. Many think, why take the time and effort to design to last and be cute too? But to us here, this is a panty that's cool, comfortable (non binding) and you can't get another one like it anywhere else. Who else has print hits?Also many people buy Patagonia for piece of mind. You know when you buy a garment with our name on it, there is very little question to where this thing comes from. No mystery of unfair labor practices, no factory who is polluting the local river by dumping their toxic waste into it, etc. I am sorry but yes, we have to hire people to research and bulldog these types of things and it's going to cost the consumer in the end.I am very sorry you have to pay $2 more this year, but I hope you can understand we are not trying to bilk hard working people out of their money. We are just trying to do the right thing when making each garment. Sorry it is not always perfect.Best Regards,Cheryl EndoPatagonia Product Line Manager, Body