Seeking to offer a sustainable alternative to single-use sanitary hygiene products, Australian fashion label Femmze has unveiled its first-ever collection of sustainable absorbent underwear – made for menstrual cycles and small bladder leaks.
In Australia, women purchase 500 million pads or 300 million tampons (depending on consumer preference) each year, leaving a carbon footprint equivalent to 5.3kg of CO2.
“If we are to make reusable solutions form part of the mainstream, I felt there was a gap in the market when it came to a fashion-inspired brand that appeals to an entirely new customer who is interested in making conscious choices when it comes to single-use plastics,” shared Rebecca Quade, founder of Femmze.
According to the company, the collection was made with the environment in mind – from their supply chain to fibres, fabric dyes, and packaging.
The cotton used for the absorbent underwear range is Oeko-tex, and Bluesign certified, with minimal water consumption and energy use during the manufacturing process. The absorbent gusset uses a Woolmark-certified merino-blend mesh liner sourced from a traceable sheep-to-shop supply chain to ensure the ethical treatment of animals.
In addition, the brand said it conducts independent lab testing on all liners to make sure all fabrics have a “next-to-skin” feeling, with the microfibre absorbent layer made using a low-toxicity dyeing process to minimise environmental impact.
“Our products complete someone’s style in a positive and impactful way regarding fashion their and sustainability,” Quade added.
The range is available in two absorbency offerings – Light to Moderate (up to two tampons) and Medium to Heavy (3-4 tampons). It comes in three styles (brief, boyleg, g-string) and three different colours (black, maroon, olive green).
