 | |
| Industry | Feminine hygiene |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founders | Radha Agrawal Miki Agrawal Antonia Dunbar |
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
Key people | Meghan Davis (CEO) |
| Products | Period underwear, incontinence underwear, organic tampons, reusable tampon applicator |
| Brands | Thinx, Speax, (BTWN) |
| Website | www |
Thinx is a New York–based company that sells period underwear, an undergarment designed to be as absorbent as traditional feminine hygiene products. Since 2022, Kimberly-Clark has had a majority stake in the business.
Thinx was founded in 2011 by Antonia Saint Dunbar, Miki Agrawal, and Radha Agrawal. [1] In 2018, Thinx released a new line called (BTWN), which offers period underwear for teens and tweens. [2] In June 2019, Thinx released Thinx Air, a quick-drying version of its underwear. [3] As of 2021, Thinx has released its first activewear collection, which includes leggings, cycle shorts, training shorts, and leotards that are available in multiple colors. The four-piece collection functions like other Thinx underwear, but the gusset design is longer and shaped differently to accommodate active lifestyles. [4] Miki Agrawal stepped down as CEO in 2017, after a former employee alleged that she had engaged in inappropriate office behavior. [5] [6] Maria Molland took over as CEO, and under her leadership, Thinx was placed on shelves in Target and Walmart. [7]
In 2019, Kimberly-Clark made a minority investment in Thinx, and in February 2022, it acquired a majority stake in the company. [8] In May 2022, Maria Molland stepped down as CEO, and the company appointed Meghan Davis as its new CEO. [9]
In 2020, lawsuits were filed against Thinx alleging misleading marketing following an independent test of the company's products that revealed the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a type of chemical found in consumer products and linked to numerous long-term health risks. [10] The lawsuits called into question whether Thinx marketing claim that its products were "organic, sustainable and nontoxic" was deceptive. In May 2022, the lawsuits were combined into a proposed class action, and the company reached a settlement in the case in November. In January 2023, the terms of the settlement were announced to consumers, which included no admission of wrongdoing and the company agreeing to pay up to US$5 million to consumers. Thinx also put out a statement alleging that PFAS are not part of the product design and going forward, it would ensure PFAS are not added to its products. [11] [12]
On January 29, 2024, CEO Meghan Davis announced on a company-wide Zoom call that 95 of the 109 staff members would be losing their jobs on May 1. Five of the laid-off employees were offered positions as employees of Kimberly-Clark, Thinx's parent company. [7]
Thinx underwear comes in a range of styles from boyshorts to thongs and includes two patented technologies. One is to absorb different amounts of blood, [13] and the other absorbs different amounts of urine. The underwear has been reported as being antimicrobial, moisture-wicking, absorbent, and leak resistant. [14] In 2019, Thinx launched Thinx Super, which is a double-absorbency product that claims to hold up to four tampons' worth of flow. [15] The underwear cost about $35 per pair. [7] Thinx introduced a pair that cost $17 in order to better compete with new lines of period underwear from large brands like Aerie and Hanes. [7]
Thinx earned a reputation for its controversial ads. [16] In October 2015, Outfront Media rejected Thinx's subway advertisements due to the fact that the ads used the word "period" and included suggestive visuals of food. [17] [18] Following a social media outcry, the ads were finally allowed to be shown. [19] [20] In 2016, Thinx received attention for featuring trans male models in its ads for period underwear. [21] [22] In November 2016, Thinx launched an ad referencing the Donald Trump Access Hollywood tape. The San Francisco subway banned the ads due to the use of the word "pussy". [23] [24] In November 2017, they created a "PMS truck", a truck visiting three cities, allowing visitors to step inside to shop for Thinx products and talk with brand representatives regarding period health. [25] In 2019, Thinx rolled out a national ad campaign featuring a young boy getting his first period with the tagline: "What if we all had periods?" and subsequent campaigns focused on reducing period stigma by showcasing men. [26] [27] These ads were banned by several TV networks including CBS for being "too graphic". [28]
After 2019, employees noticed that Thinx's marketing direction changed, featuring fewer images of people in underwear, and treating periods like something to hide. [7] In 2022, a television showed a mom starting to demonstrate tampon use to her daughter before a sister interrupts the scene with Thinx underwear, saying “Mom won’t have to show you how to use them.” Employees felt that Thinx's advertising no longer destigmatized menstruation. [7]
TIME named Thinx period panties as one of the best inventions of 2015. [29] Fast Company named Thinx one of the most innovative companies of 2017, pointing to founder Agrawal's promotional campaigns and her application of "high-tech merchandise, considered design, and a rule-breaking philosophy" to launches of new products. [30]
In 2019 Thinx leaders signed a letter condemning the abortion bans being put into place across the country. [31]
Kimberly-Clark Corporation is an American multinational consumer goods and personal care corporation that produces mostly paper-based consumer products. The company manufactures sanitary paper products and surgical & medical instruments. Kimberly-Clark brand name products include Kleenex facial tissue, Kotex feminine hygiene products, Cottonelle, Scott and Andrex toilet paper, Wypall utility wipes, KimWipes scientific cleaning wipes and Huggies disposable diapers and baby wipes.
A tampon is a menstrual product designed to absorb blood and vaginal secretions by insertion into the vagina during menstruation. Unlike a pad, it is placed internally, inside of the vaginal canal. Once inserted correctly, a tampon is held in place by the vagina and expands as it soaks up menstrual blood.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is a public benefit corporation in New York State responsible for public transportation in the New York City metropolitan area. The MTA is the largest public transit authority in North America, serving 12 counties in Downstate New York, along with two counties in southwestern Connecticut under contract to the Connecticut Department of Transportation, carrying over 11 million passengers on an average weekday systemwide, and over 850,000 vehicles on its seven toll bridges and two tunnels per weekday.
A menstrual pad is an absorbent item worn in the underwear when menstruating, bleeding after giving birth, recovering from gynecologic surgery, experiencing a miscarriage or abortion, or in any other situation where it is necessary to absorb a flow of blood from the vagina. A menstrual pad is a type of menstrual hygiene product that is worn externally, unlike tampons and menstrual cups, which are worn inside the vagina. Pads are generally changed by being stripped off the pants and panties, taking out the old pad, sticking the new one on the inside of the panties and pulling them back on. Pads are recommended to be changed every 3–4 hours to avoid certain bacteria that can fester in blood; this time also may differ depending on the kind worn, flow, and the time it is worn.
Kotex is an American brand of menstrual hygiene products, which includes the Kotex maxi, thin and ultra-thin pads, the Security tampons, and the Lightdays pantiliners. Most recently, the company has added U by Kotex to its menstrual hygiene product line. Kotex is owned and managed by Kimberly-Clark, a consumer products corporation active in more than 80 countries.
Feminine hygiene products are personal care products used for women's hygiene during menstruation, vaginal discharge, or other bodily functions related to the vulva and vagina. Products that are used during menstruation may also be called menstrual hygiene products, including menstrual pads, tampons, pantyliners, menstrual cups, menstrual sponges and period panties. Feminine hygiene products also include products meant to cleanse the vulva or vagina, such as douches, feminine wipes, and soap.
Pampers is an American brand for babies and toddlers products marketed by Procter & Gamble. This includes diapers, wipes and etc.
Playtex is an American brand name for undergarments, baby products, gloves, feminine hygiene products, and sunscreen. The brand began in 1947 when International Latex Corporation (ILC) created a division named Playtex to produce and sell latex products. Playtex was the first to advertise undergarments on national television in 1955, written by Howard Shavelson at Ogilvy and Mather, and the first to show a woman wearing only a bra from the waist up in a commercial in 1977. They developed space suits for the Apollo program.
Outfront Media, Inc. is one of the largest outdoor media companies. It operates in markets including the United States and Canada. The Americas division is led by chief executive officer Jeremy Male. Outfront Media operates both billboards and transit displays.
Goodnites are diapers designed for managing bedwetting. Goodnites are produced by Kimberly-Clark. The product has also been seen titled as Huggies Goodnites on official Huggies branded webpages.
Carefree is an American brand of pantyliners from Johnson & Johnson. In the US, the Carefree brand was formerly marketed by McNeil-PPC and currently being marketed by Edgewell Personal Care.
Cloth menstrual pads are cloth pads worn in the underwear to collect menstrual fluid. They are a type of reusable menstrual hygiene product, and are an alternative to sanitary napkins or to menstrual cups. Because they can be reused, they are generally less expensive than disposable pads over time, and reduce the amount of waste produced.
Aisle is a Canadian company that manufactures washable feminine hygiene products, including cloth menstrual pads, period underwear, and menstrual cups.
The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) is an American multinational consumer goods corporation headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, founded in 1837 by William Procter and James Gamble. It specializes in a wide range of personal health/consumer health, personal care and hygiene products; these products are organized into several segments including beauty; grooming; health care; fabric and home care; and baby, feminine, and family care. Before the sale of Pringles and Duracell to Kellogg's and Berkshire Hathaway, respectively, its product portfolio also included food, snacks, beverages, and batteries. P&G is incorporated in Ohio.
GladRags is a feminine hygiene company based in Portland, Oregon that produces reusable cloth menstrual pads and menstrual cups.
Depend is a Kimberly-Clark brand of absorbent, disposable undergarments for people with urinary or fecal incontinence. It positions its products as an alternative to typical adult diapers. Depend is the dominant brand of disposable incontinence garments in the United States with a 49.4 share of the market.
Free bleeding is the practice of menstruating without blocking or collecting the period flow. In recent years it has become a subject of public debate.
Tampon tax is a popular term used to call attention to tampons, and other feminine hygiene products, being subject to value-added tax (VAT) or sales tax, unlike the tax exemption status granted to other products considered basic necessities. Proponents of tax exemption argue that tampons, menstrual pads, menstrual cups and comparable products constitute basic, unavoidable necessities for women, and any additional taxes constitute a pink tax.
Period underwear are absorbent garments designed to be worn during menstruation. Period underwear is designed like conventional underwear but it is made up of highly absorbent fabrics to soak up menstrual blood. Most commercially manufactured period underwear makes use of microfiber polyester fabric. It is recommended that period underwear should be changed every 8-12 hours to avoid leakage and infection.
Miki Agrawal is a Canadian businesswoman. She is a co-founder Thinx, a female underwear company from which she was ousted amid allegations of professional misconduct, and later founded bidet manufacturing company Tushy.