RUSTENBURG - Doctor Millicent Pheyaga (41) has spent years treating women at a mining community clinic in the North West.
But it was not just their medical issues that caught her attention. Instead, it was somewhat recurring patterns during these consultations.
Month after month, she says many women with heavy periods would request extra days off work out of fear of leaking and staining their clothes whilst at work.
Noticing how self-conscious these women would become during that time of the month, Pheyaga says she knew there was a gap that needed to be addressed.
This realisation gave birth to BLoT Underwear, a reusable, leak-proof panty capable of locking in menstrual flow, restricting any leaks or bloating.
“We’ve been using tampons and pads for years, but the anxiety of bloating has always been there. I wanted to get rid of that,” she told eNCA.
Beyond restoring confidence, at the centre of this creation is fighting period poverty, which remains a harsh reality for millions of girls around South Africa and the world at large.
According to an article by the University of Pretoria, the lack of "affordable menstrual products, limited sanitation facilities, and pervasive cultural taboos around menstruation results in many girls missing school every month. "
This, according to the article dated November 2024, "disrupts their academic progress, harms their self-esteem and diminishes their future opportunities. The situation is even worse for girls with disabilities. "
Addressing this issue, Pheyaga says the underwear is designed for light, medium, and heavy flow and can be worn for 8 to 12 hours.
Regarding the longevity of the underwear, she notes that it can last up to two to three years if properly washed and air-dried.
According to Pheyaga, a single pair costs approximately R210, or roughly R800 for a set of five, making it cheaper than buying disposable pads on a monthly basis.
"For a child going to school, they can use it for that time, and then come back from school, and then they wash it at home. When you wash it, rinse it with cold water to remove all the excess fluid, and then wash it normally. It's either your hand washing or using the laundry machine. We don't tumble dry them. Instead, hang outside or inside," she explains.
The business in itself has not been without challenges.
Pheyaga says that to create something sustainable, reliable, and affordable, she had to consider the kind of fabric used for the underwear.
Fully aware of some of the limitations in accessing that fabric in South Africa, Pheyaga said she had to consult multiple international manufacturers, particularly those in China.
"All of them sent me the samples. I tried them until I chose the one that I wanted to work with. I made an appointment with them to fly to China, and when I arrived, I went through the factory where they introduced me to everything, including things I had never thought existed. When I saw I was happy with them, the partnership started, and then the rest is history."
BLoT Underwear’s first shipment landed only in June this year, making the brand relatively new to the country's fight against period poverty.
For now, Dr Peyaga runs the company with two young women and primarily sells through social media.
But she has big goals.
“Customs and shipping cost more than the product itself. Our dream is to build a local factory and hire more young women," she says.
- by Zandile Khumalo