Pantys, the London-based absorbent underwear brand, is launching a fitness collection.

The range of clothing and underwear is designed to enable women to continue exercising throughout their periods with confidence and comfort.

A report by Women in Sport found that 42% of women don’t exercise when they are on their period, and more than half say they are embarrassed by their periods.

“Even though half of the world’s population have been menstruating since the beginning of time, it is a topic that is never really talked about,” says Maria Eduarda Camargo, co-founder, COO and CFO of Pantys. “There have been studies that have proven that exercise can help alleviate some of the symptoms of a period and even reduce pain, yet so many people stop their usual exercise routine as they don’t feel confident. We want to empower women to continue exercising, safe in the knowledge that Pantys will support them at every race, cycle or leap.”

In a UK-wide poll of 2,000 women conducted by Populus, 54% of participants said they have had to stop exercising as a result of their menstrual cycle, with that number increasing to 73% among 16 to 24-year-olds. And 60% of professional sportswomen in the BBC’s 2020 Elite British Sportswomen’s survey said their performance had been affected by their period, and they had missed training or competitions because of it.

“We created Pantys with the mission to improve the quality of life for women through sustainability and innovation, whilst creating a positive impact on the planet,” adds Pantys co-founder and CEO Emily Ewell. “This is especially important in sport when it has been proven that exercise can have a positive impact on both the mental and physical wellbeing of people. We designed this collection so people could continue to live their life and feel confident and secure when moving their bodies.”

The four-piece collection starts at £25 and consists of absorbent shorts, leggings, underwear and a lightweight training top. The collection has been designed to cater for those with a medium to heavy flow and has been developed with the same technology that makes up the rest of the underwear collection. Each product has its own carbon label and offsets 100% of its carbon emissions. It is the first and only absorbent underwear brand in the world to be both clinically and gynaecologically tested.

Four types of fabrics are employed, with each layer treated individually to be antibacterial and antifungal – natural fibres which are dry to the touch and offer maximum comfort, an antimicrobial layer which reduces 99% of bacteria and odours, a fully absorbent layer and a waterproof fabric to protect against all leaks.

www.pantys.com