now the contents of this post may seem a little taboo to some of you, but today is menstrual hygiene day and i thought it was an appropriate time of the month to post some thoughts on the subject and a review of the reusable cloth products from indie business Party In My Pants.
after using disposable products for most of my life, i couldn't quite shake off the nagging feeling of how much environmental waste i was contributing to, and my search for more sustainable alternatives led me to try some of the pad and liner products from Party In My Pants.
Party In My Pants is a woman-owned and operated mini business that aims to deliver sustainable menstrual care for all. apart from pads and liners, they also sell other indie body care products, cozies to help with cramps, and educational resources for those new to the routine.
Party In My Pants cites several advantages that cloth products have over disposables, such as not containing any of the synthetics (or plastic components) present in disposables, allowing moisture to evaporate for better breathability, and being more absorbent than most disposables. the cloth pads are also much thinner than disposables, which tend to be more bulky and can cause unsightly lumps or bulges under clothes that need to be constantly adjusted.
their cloth pads and liners are worn just like conventional pads with wings, except that they use a button snap instead of adhesive. there's a good range of different sizes available, which is a strong advantage over the cookie-cutter one-size-fits-all approach of disposables. they also offer customisation options to make sizes narrower by adding an optional snap, or wider by adding a wing extender.
the fabric designs are chosen with stain camouflaging in mind, and Party In My Pants regularly changes the patterns offered so there's always something new. it's really altered my perception of now seeing these products as being part of my wardrobe the same way as a cute top or skirt, instead of something plain and generic to be thrown away afterward.
plus, i also like how the cloth pads can fold up into a compact bundle (as in the above photo) that's easy to keep in a small pouch in my purse. it's far more subtle than bulky disposables with their crinkly plastic wrappings, which rustle so loudly it's almost as if they want to announce their presence in front of company when i least want others to know what i'm up to with my purse.
i think the biggest psychological hurdle to overcome with reusables is the 'ick' factor of washing them, especially when it comes to pads not liners. ironically, it was the familiar experience of scrubbing stained underwear (from a leaky disposable) that gave me a fresh perspective – not only was this a natural bodily function that was nothing to be ashamed of, it was also really no different from washing and cleaning any other piece of clothing.
while i initially only bought enough to try out a hybrid model of part cloth and part disposable, i soon found myself reaching for the cloth often enough that i ended up giving away the disposables which remained unopened and unused for months. i then took the plunge to make a second purchase of enough products to eliminate disposables from my routine (though i do still keep some disposables at home and in my purse for others who may need them).
that said, i get that reusables may not be for everyone, and that's also okay. this post isn't intended to shame anyone for their choice of products, or push for only one 'best' type of product, but to introduce and share a little about my journey with this sustainable alternative.
we sometimes treat menstruation as if it's a top-secret stealth mission, especially when around polite company. it's understandable from the perspective of being responsible with managing one's own body fluids, but it should never become a negative stigma that goes against women in general.
menstrual hygiene is not just for those who are biologically female. awareness of menstrual hygiene goes beyond just the types of products used, but also in proper education and the right attitude by everyone regardless of whether they personally experience menstruation.
stereotypes such as women being grouchy "because it's that time of the month", or of men refusing to set foot in the 'period products' aisle, don't help things. we need to recognise menstruation as just one of many natural bodily functions that we humans have, and treat it - and women - accordingly.
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this review is of products that i had purchased at regular price with my own money. i wasn’t asked to review these as a condition of receipt and didn’t receive any incentives for writing this. i’m not affiliated with Party In My Pants Pads and as always, all opinions remain my own.
all information correct at time of publishing.
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