By Huang Jingjing

As hot summer approaches, some men are turning to a new kind of undergarment to make them look slimmer, or just avoid getting soaked in sweat - bras for man boobs.

The male brassieres are accessible at about 30 online shops on taobao. com, one of the largest online shopping websites in China. The men's bras are either made in Japan or produced domestically and sold by Japanese sales representatives.

The colors vary in black, white and pink, and cost 16 yuan ($2.3) to 300 yuan ($43) each.

"Many people ask me about the product," said an online shop owner named Situ Yun on taobao.com. She told the Global Times that she became a sales agent for Japanese-made man bras two months ago.

"How are they different from bras for women? Has anybody ordered one? Wouldn't it be strange to wear one?" are typical questions she hears from curious customers.

She said few people actually buy the product.

Sellers say the bras appeal to two groups of men: obese guys with fat, drooping breasts, or men with skinny chests.

"The bras can help fatty men shape their bodies, prevent sagging breasts and reduce the stress on their hearts. Skinny men can make their pectoral muscles look bigger, improve their posture and enhance their self-confidence," a seller was quoted on qianlong.com, a Beijing-based news portal.

Some buyers said the bras are really helpful.

"When summer comes, the sweat would stain my clothes. But with the bra, the awkward situation wouldn't emerge," a man under 30 surnamed Zhang said.

Some people say that men wearing bras must have psychological problems.

"It's would be disgusting to see men wearing bras, which can be easily seen through in summer," a man surnamed Tang from Hunan told the Global Times.

Overweight Lei Yang, 26, in Beijing, said he would never try one on.

"It won't bring any good to me; only weirdness and unease," he told the Global Times.

Others say it's a personal choice that should be respected.

"If the bras really benefit men and bring them health and happiness, there is nothing wrong with it," said Situ.

Many buyers choose to keep their purchases secret.

"I sold five bras and all of the buyers wanted to keep their personal information secret," Situ said.

Zhang said he dared not tell his parents or colleagues that he wears a bra.

"Without my girlfriend's support, I would not have bought it because I had anxiety about it," he said.

It seems the male bra market is better in Japan.

According to Japanese media, more than 300 of the brassieres were snapped up in two weeks after an online shop in Japan began selling them in 2008.