Revolutionary Underwear Could Replace Tampons And Pads


A new pair of underwear is set to revolutionize the lady’s underwear and hygiene world. Three innovative ladies, Radha and Miki Agrawal and Antonia Dunbar, have created a pair of underwear that can replace a tampon or pad.

The issue of menstruation is a big one worldwide. In the United Kingdom, tampons are considered a luxury item and are taxed as such. Yes, you read right. In the U.K, women must pay 5 percent extra tax on tampons. Crazy right?

This new invention by these three geniuses is the new savior for women all over the world during that time of the month. Take a look at this diagram on how it works.

Screengrab - http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0795/1599/t/3/assets/diagram.gif?14535300181385077213
Screen Grab from SheThinx.com

The first layer helps maintain the dry feeling even when the bleeding does start. The second layer is anti-bacterial, to prevent infections. The third layer is absorbent and can hold up to twice the amount of a single tampon. The fourth and final layer is leak resistant, to prevent spillage.

The patented technology comes in three styles: “thong,” “cheeky,” and, “hip-hugger,” all costing between $24-$32. One of the creators, Miki Agrawal says, “I want to change the culture around women’s most normal time of month — and not while wearing grandma panties or pads that feel like a diaper.” She believes that most women feel it’s “crass” and “disgusting” to talk about their periods in public, which has to change.

It’s clear that these ladies are more about the social change they can make than the money. Their aims include reducing the negative environmental impact of throwing away tampons and pads, changing the type of conversation had about periods, and providing a comfortable experience for women worldwide during that time of the month.

The company, THINX, is venture capital backed and operates on a “buy one, give one” policy. When one pair of THINX underwear is bought, a set of reusable tampons/pads are given to women in Uganda.

THINX also actually works out cheaper than buying tampons or pads. When reading $24-$32 you probably scoffed at that price for one pair of underwear. However, $200 gets you a pack of seven pairs which would cover most cycles. According to THINX, this pack of seven would last 2 years. They also said on average, most women spend $120 per year on tampons and pads. So think about it. You’re getting your period covered at $200 per year, PLUS they count as underwear. What’s not to love?

You’re also probably thinking that they must get dirty really quickly, and must be hard to clean. According to Agrawal, they go perfectly in the cold wash, although she does recommend hand-washing before hand.

This looks like a great innovation for women. Cheap underwear and tampon cover, coming in all shapes and sizes. Environmentally friendly. Easy to wash and easy to handle. No need to worry about embarrassing leaks. What’s not to like?

Featured image by Paula Rey via Flickr, available under a Creative Commons Licence

After graduating from City University London with a degree in law, Craig is now a freelance blogger and writer. He works on his own blog that speaks on social and cultural millennial issues.