Quit your classic hygienic protectors against reusable protectors, it’s an idea that has seduced many people. In particular menstrual panties loverseasy to use and non-invasive unlike the menstrual cup.
Additionally, the panty market has expanded significantly to appeal to the reluctant ones. Some brands now think and position menstrual panties as full-fledged lingerie items, this is the case with the pioneering Elia brand in France. Comfort and protection are no longer the only criteria to take into consideration to make refractories envious, there is also design, provenance, materials and price.
Not supporting tampons, I found the idea interesting, despite having a lot of questions: “But won’t it have a layered effect? And if I ever had too much flow, would my panties leak? »
Victoria, 35 years old
Among the increasingly important offer, some brands are doing well, it is the case of the brand Elijah which has been approaching since 2018 gynecologists and midwives to know more the physiological needs of menstruating people. All this with the aim of offering non-harmful material assemblies (i.e. without per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) silver nanoparticles) while being highly absorbent.
More than a product, Elia is revolutionizing women’s health by offering the leading healthcare platform in Europe. The brand also organizes conversation groups with panels, to understand what users expect from their periodic protections. In three years the brand has established itself in the small world of sanitary protection and can boast of having sold well 300,000 copies of menstrual panties and swimsuits.
Figures that almost make you believe that disposable pads are just a distant memory… But before we say anything, here’s a brief overview of the use of pads in France.
The use of menstrual protection in France
Like food or hygiene products, personal protection is a basic necessity that affects almost a third of the population. Furthermore, a report by the National Assembly’s Delegation for Women’s Rights and Equal Opportunities between Men and Women, presented on February 13, 2020, illustrated this with instructive figures.
On average, menstruation appears between the ages of 13 and 50 in France, and this affects about 15.5 million people. This means that they menstruate for about 38 years of their lives, at the rate of five days a month, which equals 2280 days.
Obviously, this comes at a cost, especially with disposable pads. The report estimates that each person who menstruates uses about five pads a day for five days, or 11,400 pads over a lifetime. From these elements, the authors of the report calculated it the cost of lifelong disposable menstrual protection is between €8,000 and €23,000 depending on the brand used.
In another study conducted by IFOP in 2017, also in France, nearly 1.7 million women cannot afford to buy disposable intimate protection on a monthly basis. This drives them to resort to improvised means of protection, even at the cost of putting their health at risk.
This certainly explains the rise in favor of reusable protectors and menstrual panties… In addition to their durable appearance, Reusable pads also offer a solution for many menstruating people.
Reusable menstrual pads in France
According to the Nielsen Institute, between December 2020 and December 2021, the sale of menstrual panties would quadruple. At the same time, the sale of tampons decreased by 9.5%. This is the translation of a changing market:
My first impression of this product was right away! In short, I immediately discovered that it could be a good alternative to other protections, but I had some preconceived ideas… In particular because I really had fear of losses.
Furthermore, the first models I saw were not necessarily very beautiful and above all very wide. I didn’t like it… Mainly for fear of a big mark on the jeans. I told myself that the price of just one panty was still high, because I still didn’t realize how profitable it was.
Melody, 23 years old
After polling a panel of menstruating people between the ages of 22 and 37, the selection criteria that stand out the most when it comes to their menstrual panties remain efficiency, aesthetics, composition and price. For example, an Elia brand item costs between 35 and 69 euros depending on the model. The brand justifies these prices in different ways, notably due to its composition and place of production.
The brand’s panties are made in France in the first workshop to know how to knit cotton wool. A cotton that is both breathable and draining, capable of carrying vaginal discharge into the absorbent area of the panties. A unique, effective and above all respectful of people and the environment.
To reassure its consumers, the brand has developed a savings calculator, which allows you to determine how long your panties have been profitable. And taking the figures determined in relation to the Delegation for women’s rights and equal opportunities between men and women, panties would pay for themselves in five menstrual cycles, or about five months.
As for the design, it is not overlooked as it often determines the act of purchase.
A large flow panty can be seductive
To attract new female followers, the aesthetics of menstrual panties must be thought of as that of a piece of lingerie. New consumers don’t want to skimp on this aspect.
For my next period panties, I’ll pay attention to the thickness (I don’t like the “diaper” side of what I currently have), as well as the seams (I prefer seamless lingerie, because it’s more comfortable and discreet).
Alice 28 years old
This is also Elia’s credo, who designs unique designs, all registered with the INPI (National Institute of Intellectual Property). Like the Simone model developed exclusively in-house, with textile engineers and healthcare professionals. The result gives a unique model that does not exist in the trade in both menstrual and non-menstrual.
Menstrual protection and its level of accessibility is a true political indicator of women’s place in a country. Of course, in France it is easy to get intimate protection when the budget allows, but progress can still be made on this side.
Additionally, menstrual panties are a long-term investment that remain a solution for those who can afford them. Country of production, materials used, effectiveness of the object and aesthetics are the most used criteria by manufacturers to continue to convince five years after the start of the mass use of menstrual panties.
This is the start of a response to ensure that menstruation is a smoother experience for menstruating people, who are increasingly attracted to reusable protection.
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
