When Deborrah Ashley, managing director of Luxelegwear.com, launched her site in 2005, she used to sell just one line of hosiery for men, and now she has around 13 lines for male undergarments.
Although sales have been rising for a long time, Ashley said that the site received a boost in orders following the Batman craze fuelled by "The Dark Knight" mid-July.
"Before the movie it was repeat bulk orders...it was almost like a secret society, and now it's brand new customers," The New York Daily News quoted Ashley, as saying.
She revealed that her customers like their mantyhose for warmth, support for athletics, and circulation.
For more of this disturbing information, check out the site e-MANcipate.net, which is devoted to "accelerating the acceptance of male pantyhose as a regular clothing item," and features a how-to guide for wearing mantyhose properly.
But beware, none of the male models on that site look like they are going to go out and fight crime any time soon.