NIKINI
In 1960, after the success of Paddi, Valerie Hunter Gordon turned her attention to the other area in her life which she felt could be improved. This was sanitary towels and belts. ie what a woman uses when she has her "monthly" period, to soak up the blood and protect her clothes.
Before Nikini
Women used sanitary towels ( ST's ) kept in place with a sanitary belt which went around the waist.
The towels were layers of cellulose wadding in a knitted cotton covering, which was made into a loop at each end. From the 1940's they were manufactured by Robinsons of Chesterfield and were called Mene.
The belt was originally made of the sort of thing, that at that time, did up men's pyjamas - woven cotton cord. This was later replaced by adjustable elastic. There were two tapes that hung down, front and back, to which the loops of the towels were attached.
There were problems with this system
1. It was very uncomfortable
2. There was nothing to prevent blood going everywhere once the pad was full.
Before Nikini
Women used sanitary towels ( ST's ) kept in place with a sanitary belt which went around the waist.
The towels were layers of cellulose wadding in a knitted cotton covering, which was made into a loop at each end. From the 1940's they were manufactured by Robinsons of Chesterfield and were called Mene.
The belt was originally made of the sort of thing, that at that time, did up men's pyjamas - woven cotton cord. This was later replaced by adjustable elastic. There were two tapes that hung down, front and back, to which the loops of the towels were attached.
There were problems with this system
1. It was very uncomfortable
2. There was nothing to prevent blood going everywhere once the pad was full.
Valerie Hunter Gordon decided that a 2 part system was needed - a garment and a pad
The garment was a type of minimal knicker -
just large enough to hold the pad in place and to provide a waterproof base underneath the pad to prevent leakage.
It was made underneath, of PVC similar to the plastic used in Paddi.
It then had broad comfortable elastic around the sides to hold it in place, low down at bikini level.
At the front it had two little tape fasteners with press studs to attach the pad and keep it in place.
The pad or towel was made of cellluose wadding with a net cover, with slight shaping for better fit.
There were two holes at the front of the towel for the press stud fasteners on the garment.
It was a huge success . Compared to what was available before it was, without argument,
a massive improvement.
Women were much more comfortable
They were more secure - far less likely to have leakage.
It was smaller and easier to hide under most clothing even swimwear.
To Valerie Hunter Gordon's surprise Nikini earned more royalties overall than Paddi.
However, as she said
"There are probably more menstruating women in the world than incontinent babies"!
Mrs Hunter Gordon formed the name Nikini by combining Knicker and Bikini
For Much more information on this and of the History of The Sanitary Towel go to -
Feminine Hygiene
To see early USA patent
To see the USA patent