Reuseable Period Underwear
Reuseable Period Underwear
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Developed a high-performing reusable period underwear that provided all-day leak protection for a New York-based brand that mainstreamed period underwear. To inform the design, we conducted user and scientific research to understand the menstrual needs of users and the technical requirements. We followed open innovation practices to identify and assess innovative textile technologies and develop them for use in the garment. A prototype was designed for manufacturing at scale. A version of this product is now available in the market.
Role: Open Innovation Lead, Product Development, User Research, Prototyping and Testing | 16 months
*Limited details presented due to confidentiality.
*Image sourced from Thinx
We conducted user research in New York, USA to understand their habits and attitudes around periods. Participants were selected across ages, cultural backgrounds and income levels.
The primary challenge was finding reusable materials with functionality that matched or exceeded disposable materials. A four-layer gusset solution was developed, based on prior designs with the required functional and technical specifications.
Over 60 materials were sourced and tested for performance. Five testing protocols were used to measure the functionality of each layer with a synthetic fluid developed to mimic the properties of mensural blood.
The material innovation lay in developing a reusable non-woven material, which is conventionally used for disposable products.
*Image sourced from Thinx
The final prototype held up to 3.5x a regular tampon, stays dry, doesn’t stain clothes, is odor free and feels like regular underwear.
The project was done for a client while working at MAS Innovation, Sri Lanka.
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