While talks on women empowerment have been on for quite some time, it is only in recent years that the issue of feminine intimate hygiene is getting highlighted. A 2016 study reveals that a significant portion of over 355 million menstruating women and girls in India face obstacles while managing menstrual hygiene due to the lack of the right knowledge and products.
But with initiatives like Menstrual Hygiene Day, the voices and actions of non-profits, government agencies, individuals and the media, and the private sector are playing a major role in promoting good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) for women and girls. With rising awareness about menstrual hygiene, an innovative technology enabling more solutions and start-ups offering more affordable products, the private sector is leading a revolution in the adoption of diverse intimate hygiene solutions.
As consumers are becoming more confident in trying the new innovations penetrating the market, India’s feminine hygiene space is already being disrupted for the best. Let us see some of the brands that are playing a major role in this much-needed change:
1. FLOH
FLOH is a revolutionary feminine health and hygiene brand, which is aimed at promoting comfortable and hassle-free periods for every woman in the country. Rolled out by Visionaari, a Delhi-based personal care start-up, FLOH tampons provide up to 8 hours of protection, contributing to minimizing waste production. Other than giving you the freedom to move and indulge in physical activities like swimming, these tampons are convenient to use.
FLOH has made available reasonably priced (between INR 115-120) and individually packed tampons to encourage more women in the country to experience the convenience of using this product. The brand has also launched Cramp-free period pain relief patches, which are 100% herbal and do not have any side effects. The brand envisions to increase the availability of its products, both online and offline and cut across tier I, II and III cities of the country.
2. Sirona
Sirona is an award-winning intimate & menstrual hygiene product brand providing solutions to ‘ignored & unaddressed’ feminine/menstrual hygiene woes and wellness-related problems. One of its most promising product is the Sirona menstrual cup which is FDA approved soft, flexible, reusable and is made of medical grade silicone. The cup’s flexibility allows for easy insertion and removal. You can put the cup safely inside for 8-12 hours without having to worry about the leakage. The silicon used to make the Sirona cups have optimum flexibility and comfort which makes it an ideal menstrual aid for all kinds of sports, travelling & day to day usage.
3. Carmesi
While India was gearing up towards a ‘pad revolution’ to increase the reach of basic menstrual care products to rural areas, Carmesi was devising a natural alternative, which ‘comes from nature, goes back into nature’. Its sanitary pads and panty liners are thin and easy to use, cause no rashes and are composed of natural fibre, which promises easy disposal. While providing a much safer alternative to synthetic pad options that are widely available in the market, these maintain the vaginal pH while being eco-friendly and sustainable for the earth.
4. Azah
Launched in October 2018, Azah is a brand that follows a similar line of innovation as Carmesi. With its tagline, “A better period lies ahead”, it is chemical free and is composed of 100% organic cotton. Azah offers the thinnest and softest sanitary pads for the convenience of its users. Its products come sealed in biodegradable disposal bags, which can be used at the time of discarding of the used pad.
5. Heyday
Stating that you should take care of your two homes: your body and the environment, this brand of sanitary napkins offers natural and biodegradable organic products. Its products are a healthier alternative to synthetic pads, which have a negative effect on your body as well as the environment. It goes a step further in saving the environment by turning to corn and bamboo fibres to manufacture its products. It surely brings about “Heyday(s)” for nature and for its users with its anti-bacterial, super soft and highly absorbent range of products.
