News Beat
The best period pants, for stylish but effective absorbency
Wuka stands for ‘Wake Up, Kick Ass’ and these pants put me in a positive, confident mood. Wuka was one of the first companies to bring period pants to market in the UK and still lead the pack when it comes to quality and innovation. The female-led business provides stylish underwear to empower women and eradicate menstrual shame. I’d say they’ve been successful in that field.
These briefs have an unusual design, with mesh sides, but feel comfortable, strong and high-quality. I found myself reaching for them first, whenever I thought my period was coming on. I felt really secure in them and wore them on my heaviest days with no leaks. They come in a wide range of absorbencies, to suit all flows. They’re lasting well, feeling like new after multiple washes.
They’re made primarily from Tencel fabric, which claims to be eco-friendly, being forged from wood pulp. Wuka’s founder, Ruby Taut, grew up in Nepal and was given her mother’s old saris to fold into her underwear when she was on her period. Later, studying environmental science in Britain, she decided innovation was desperately needed in the menstrual market, so she started developing prototype pants with absorbent material stitched into the gusset. The result: Wuka.
Reader input: Reader Abby Baxter writes to say that, when she tried Wuka, she experienced a leak. “I moved to Bodyform period pants and they fit much better,” Abby says. “I particularly like to use their night time period pants, which are secure and comfy.”
Key specifications
- Sizes available: From 4 to 26
- Absorbency level: Available in light (7ml), medium (15ml), heavy (20ml), super (60ml)
- Day or night: Day, but they offer an overnight version too
- Washing instructions: Wash at 30 or 40C, air dry (don’t tumble dry)
