New not-for-profit Reemi are on a mission to make sure everyone has a positive period. Image supplied.
Auckland-based not-for-profit Reemi recently launched the world’s most innovative period underwear following 18 months of research. The underwear is the first of its kind and is made from a newly developed fabric technology called CottonX, a self-disinfecting fibre. Each pair can hold up to two tampons worth of blood and are environmentally friendly and biodegradable. The fibre the underwear is made from fuses 100% natural cotton with copper oxide which means its not only soft on sensitive skin but can even help reduce the risk of infections.
Reemi was founded by Emily Au Young (non-profit Marketing Manager) and emergency nurse Ashleigh Howan and was born out of their own frustrations with the limited and inadequate products available for menstruation. During a research trip to local groups in Bangladesh, Nepal and India in 2017, they saw firsthand the extent of global poverty. They also learned that a shocking number of factory workers (73%) missed an average of six days of work per month (resulting in unpaid days) due to infections caused by unhygienic menstrual cloth or rags.
Together they created a registered charity as a response and will begin their first major project supporting garment workers with their menstruation in Bangladesh at the end of this year. Reemi has partnered with the best local organisations in Bangladesh to ensure 100% of their profits go towards providing much needed education and menstrual products. The funds raised by their Kickstarter campaign will contribute to a trial in a garment factory in Bangladesh for late this year. This will help with understanding preferred product solutions, and to measure impact over a long period of time.
Reemi’s Kickstarter campaign offers supporters the chance to get some of the new innovative period underwear fro themselves while supporting a worthy cause. Reemi have a goal to see people all around the world have access to a convenient, safe, and healthy period; to not be held back in life.
Images supplied.