Back to the old ways
Some women are using cloth sanitary pads because they are comfortable, economical and green.
IN Rahayu Mohd Bohari’s workshop, there is evidence everywhere of a creative mind at work. Amid the well- ordered chaos, large containers of cloth pads are stacked against the walls, two sewing machines sit on a long desk, rows of ribbon and measuring tapes hang to the left of a computer and giant spools of thread nestle in the corner.
Rahayu, 38, bustles to and from her workstation, retrieving a stash of rainbow- hued pads from beneath the table. She fans them out on the desk – pantyliners, regular pads, and overnight pads – creating a semi- circle of cute designs and colour.
“I really love picking out the designs,” she says. “For someone just starting out, I recommend getting a complete set like this one, which will get you through a period if you alternate with disposables.”
“Cloth pads are really comfortable,” she says, stroking the soft, fluffy pads. “It feels like you’re just wearing panties.”
The mother of one works out of her home in Shah Alam, Selangor. She started her online business, Sweet n Cozy, six years ago, around the time her son was born. The former graphic designer then quit her job to focus full time on expanding her business.
She switched from disposable pads to cloth pads after she decided to cloth diaper her son.
“Before he was born, I did research on cloth diapers and decided it was the best option for him,” she says. “Through buying cloth diapers, I found out about cloth pads. At first, I tried cloth pads from other sellers but I felt they were too bulky. As a designer, I wanted to make slimmer and more absorbent pads.”
She stitched pantyliners first, using herself as a test model. Soon, she expanded her range to a multitude of fabrics and templates, finally perfecting the streamlined pads she had dreamed of.
In between school runs and the morning scramble to tidy the house, she busies herself in her workroom, taking orders online, replying to customer queries and expertly making pad after pad as her sewing machines clatter to life.
She has two assistants who help with the cutting and sewing. In a productive month, her home- based factory can churn out 200 pads.
“Around 90% of my materials are imported from the US and China,” she reveals. “I use special fabrics, like Zorb, bamboo fleece and Minky that are hard to get here. Zorb and bamboo fleece are very absorbent, while Minky is hard to stain.”
The fabrics – known for wicking away moisture from skin – are also good for sensitive skin. Women who are prone to rashes or redness should try cloth pads, Rahayu advises.
“With cloth pads, because there are no chemicals and the fabric is very smooth, so you don’t get rashes. It’s good for sensitive skin,” she adds.
Her sister, who made the switch to cloth five years ago, is now a staunch proponent of the pads. Azleen Mohd Bohari, 41, is a teacher who has converted some of her colleagues.
“A few of my friends have switched to cloth pads,” she says. “They’re interested in the designs and how comfortable they are.”
“I didn’t feel uncomfortable about washing the pads, actually,” she continues. “You just change the pad, place it in a wet bag and go home to fully wash it.”
While women fawn over the whimsical designs, the thought of them drenched in blood can be off- putting. Menstruation is universally regarded as a messy affair, better kept a secret and sealed off in easily disposable pads or tampons. But perhaps there is something about cloth pads that dredges up our discomfort of the female body: that it leaks, it bleeds and is “dirty” and “unclean”.
Not so, say these two sisters. After all, cloth pads hark back to a recent past when our grandmothers bled on rags.
“You just rinse and lightly rub the used pads with cold water until they’re clean,” Rahayu says, matter- of- factly. “You can also soak the pads in room temperature salt water for two to three hours to remove stains. After that, you can rinse the pads until they’re clean, or toss them in the washing machine.”
The pads are reusable, so while a set may cost upwards of RM150, they are more economical in the long term. Taken care of properly, they can last several years.
“Instead of going to landfills where they don’t biodegrade, cloth pads can be washed and reused again,” Rahayu explains. “I believe in a green lifestyle, but I try to be sensible about it. I do plant my own vegetables.”
“Quite a few of my customers are greenies. Sometimes, they specially request that I don’t use plastic to package their pads.”
Ng Hui Xin, a beauty blogger, is pragmatic about leading a green lifestyle. She’s green “within ( her) means”. After three years of using cloth pads, she’s satisfied because they’re “breathable, more absorbent, and don’t have any foul smell like disposables.”
The 32- year- old contends that the advantages of cloth pads outweigh their disadvantages.
“They’re green, more hygienic, and don’t leave any carbon footprints. There’s no obvious disadvantage to them, except maybe the effort to wash them,” she says.
She concludes that it’s “a personal preference”, a choice informed women should make for themselves. Meanwhile, in Rahayu’s workroom, the designer is perched on a stool, a cloth pad in her hands and a wet bag on her lap. The designs on both are kawaii- cute.
“So, once you’re ready to change the pad, you just fold them up and snap the button shut,” she says, demonstrating. “Then you pop them in the wet bag. The wet bags are water proof, so you don’t have to worry about leaks or stains.”
The mumpreneur has seen a surge in sales since she started six years ago. More women, she believes, are aware of these green creations. She hopes the increased interest will mean she can open a brickand- mortar store in the future.
“For me, it’s about the income I generate for my family, yes, but there’s more to it than that,” she says. “It’s also about helping other women – helping them with skin problems, helping them with comfort, and helping them to save money!”