THINX

So often the discussion surrounding menstruation tends to focus on the gory bits, the discomforting aspects that some find queasy or, in layman’s terms, gross. But the real issue concerning menstruation or periods is the lack of efficient and green feminine hygiene products available-something the brand THINX wants to change.

Beginning in 2014, THINX has been actively trying to alter the negative connotations associated with menstruation and more-so shed light on the ailments that people with menstruation experience not just in the United States, but all over the world. In particular, young girls in developing countries who are unable to attend school whenever they’re menstruating. Due to a lack of feminine hygiene products at their disposal, a lot of young women and children are having to stay home, depriving them of sustained education.

But how exactly is THINX attempting to fix this? They’ve created a brand of underwear that can be worn throughout the entire day, without the use of multiple tampons or pads. The fabric of the underwear works like this: the top layer absorbs any moisture or liquids and funnels them into a smaller layer, hidden below. Their fabrics were created with the sole purpose of being “anti-microbial, moisture-wicking, absorbent, and leak resistant”. This means that the user should be able to wear the same pair all day, reducing the need for multiple tampons throughout the day and potentially decreasing the number of people who experience Toxic Shock Syndrome (Toxic Shock Syndrome is the result of complications typically associated with pro-longed use of tampons; it can cause headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and in extreme cases, death).

To ensure that user can wear THINX for a prolonged period of time, they’ve also created different styles, e.g. hip-hugger, hi-waist, boy-shorts, sport, cheeky, and thong. Each style supports and absorbs its own amount of moisture, the hip-hugger being one of the most popular as it can hold up to two tampon’s worth of blood. In addition to being reusable, they can also hopefully cut down on the use of less eco-friendly products like tampons or pads.

THINX not only implements a “buy 1, fund 1” model, they also guarantee that any purchase of their product goes directly towards financing their six-month program, Global Girls Club, in which they educate young girls about “reproductive health, human rights, and financial literacy/entrepreneurship”.  By purchasing a pair of these wonderful underwears, you’ll not only be promoting the use of environmentally friendly feminine hygiene products, you’ll also be helping to educate young girls everywhere.