Period pants: Empowering women and the planet

Here at Love Essex, we love how much reusable period products are being discussed. There are now amazing small businesses and brands which are supporting people who menstruate with their switch to reusable products. 

We took the opportunity to sit down with Kelly Newton, founder of Nixi Body, a UK based period pants company ‘on a mission to keep women moving through menstruation, motherhood and menopause - and save the planet one pair of knickers at a time!’ 

Hi Kelly. What inspired you to start a business focused on reusable period pants?  

I had suffered with really heavy periods throughout my life, often bleeding through the huge pads we used to wear. I was eventually diagnosed with endometriosis and had to have a hysterectomy in my early 40’s.  I’d always been really active, playing netball, football and hockey and have memories of playing netball with this pad moving about and rubbing and chafing.  

My teenage daughters were wearing the same disposable products that I was wearing 25 years previously and I realised that: 

1) we were throwing away a bag of used period products each week   

2) there had been barely any innovation with period products.  

I started to look into the stats of how much rubbish is produced from these products (over 200,000 tonnes each year in the UK alone!) and thought that something needed to change. I tried a couple of the reusable leak-proof knickers that were already on the market and they were so big and bulky I felt like I was wearing a nappy.   

I wanted something absorbent and discreet so I decided to design my own.  

Can you share the journey of how you developed your product from the initial idea to launching the product?  

I worked with a technical designer to get the design right. It was really important to me that the knickers were absorbent but discreet. As someone who plays a lot of sports, I wanted the knickers to be secure so I felt confident when I was playing sports.  

I looked into the most absorbent fabrics and we played about with the design to make sure it was discreet. I asked my friends from hockey to test them out and eventually after several samples we had a design we were happy with.  

I needed the fabric to be of the best quality so they can be worn, washed and used again for several years.  The knickers have a seamless, scalloped edging and a discreetly designed gusset so they can’t be seen underneath tight gym leggings. All in all, it took around 18 months from idea to product production.  

What feedback have you received from women who use your period pants, and how has it impacted their lives?  

We receive the most amazing feedback from our customers. They call them game changers and say they have given them confidence.  Everyone always comments on the fact they are completely VPL-free.  Others have mentioned that since using reusables their cramps haven’t felt as bad and their periods so heavy.  Women are becoming more educated about how bad disposables are for both the planet and their bodies and say they would never go back.  

What challenges have you faced in promoting reusable period pants, and how have you overcome them?  

Some women are freaked out initially. They think that they will just be sitting in their own blood and are worried about the smell. The top layer of the knickers is moisture wicking so pulls the blood away from your skin and the layers keep any odour locked in.  

Education is key! We always tell women to buy one pair of our most absorbent knickers and wear them on their lightest flow days. It gives them the confidence to build up to heavier days.  

How do you see your product contributing to the broader conversation about menstrual health and sustainability?  

Disposable period products cause over 200,000 tonnes of waste each year ending up on our beaches and in landfill. They can take up to 800 years to decompose and each packet of tampons contain the equivalent of 4 to 5 plastic bags. Over half of the population menstruates so this is a huge issue! Our products can be worn, washed and reused for up to 3 years and contain no chemicals or plastics. By using reusables you will not only save money in the long run, you will feel better for it and will be saving the planet!  

Discover the savings and benefits of reusable products 

Thanks so much to Kelly for sharing her story and how Nixi Body and period pants are making a big difference to waste, the environment and women’s health. 

Find out more about reusable period products on our Love Your Period webpage including how much money you could save by making the switch.