In Thailand, women entrepreneurs break menstrual taboos in bid to end period poverty
- From reusable cloth pads to menstrual cups, a new wave of more eco-friendly feminine hygiene products is being introduced to Thailand
- The women behind the brands want to promote equality as well as sustainability – and help Thai women be less embarrassed about their bodies
A new wave of female Thai entrepreneurs are introducing more culturally sensitive and eco-friendly feminine hygiene products to the kingdom, tearing down taboos in the process. This story is part of a series on women’s issues in China and Asia to coincide with International Women’s Day.
Among them is Kesinee Jirawanidchakorn, who founded her SunnyCotton brand of reusable cloth menstrual pads in 2017 after being inspired by the products she first used while studying in the Japanese city of Kyoto.
She described the first time she wore the cloth pads as a “spiritual experience” that she felt brought her closer to her ancestors “who relied on pieces of cloth during their periods a long time ago”.
But despite now having a customer base numbering “in the thousands”, Kesinee said SunnyCotton was about more than simply making profit.
“I want to address how the world is dealing with garbage,” the 38-year-old said. “I also want to provide women who are allergic to common menstrual pads with options, so they can be less dependent on big menstrual product brands whose pricing means many have no access to period hygiene, and as a result some of them feel alienated from their own body [and] their own menstruation.”
Kesinee is part of a new wave of Thai female entrepreneurs who are taking on the big-name feminine hygiene brands with products that are more culturally sensitive and environmentally friendly. Her reusable pads cost between 120-200 baht (US$3.93-6.55) each and can last for up to 10 years.
