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Blame Justin Bieber, Snapchat or sexting, womens bikinis sale but sales of men’s underwear are finally on the upswing.

“As these young guys suit underwear are sexting more they don’t want to be caught in their grandfather’s underwear,” said Robin Lewis, chief executive of The Robin Report, an industry newsletter.

Stronger sales of men’s underwear also reflect the rise of premium purveyors, including Tommy John, Mack Weldon and 2(X)ist, in an industry that has traditionally been for many men an afterthought.

“The elastic would have to wear out before men would buy new underwear,” said Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at NPD Group. “Men’s underwear purchases were driven by replenishment.”

But that’s changing along with who’s buying the briefs. Just 35 percent of men’s undies are bought by women, down from 65 percent eight years ago.

The overall $4.1 billion men’s underwear industry, including undershirts and bottoms, was flat for the 12 months ending February 2016, but that’s mostly because sales of undershirts were down 3 percent, according to NPD Group.

Sales of bottoms, which account for $2.8 billion in sales, grew 2 percent over the same period.

“We are in an accelerated growth period,” said Cohen.

That’s good news for the overall economy as well. Strengthening sales of men’s underwear — be they briefs, boxers or boxer briefs — signal an economic recovery, according to former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, who championed the so-called Men’s Underwear Index.

Calvin Klein can take credit for making men feel sexy in their briefs more than 30 years ago, plastering ads of pole vaulter Tom Hintnaus and actor Mark Wahlberg on billboards. Men’s underwear was the largest apparel growth category in 1997, with a 9 percent surge in sales.

Splash NewsBut that excitement has tapered off over the years, industry experts said.

Now, new brands are pushing comfort, high-tech fabrics that are supposed to feel like a second skin and fly “innovations” (think quick draw).

Not to be outdone, Calvin Klein hit back this year with ads featuring Bieber in his skivvies.

Naturally, premium bottoms don’t come cheap. A pair of Tommy John boxer briefs costs anywhere from $29 to $48, while Mack Weldon briefs are about $30 a pop.

“The message is about comfort, fit and functionality,” said Tommy John Chief Executive Tom Patterson.

Tommy John hopes to open a bricks-and-mortar store and next fall is expanding its line to include wear-to-work clothing such as pants with a zipper fly.

As the momentum continues, “It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Victoria’s Secret expanded into men’s underwear,” NPD’s Cohen said.