A trio of young female entrepreneurs, aiming to combat period poverty with £4 underwear, have been recognised with a prestigious business award.
Sarah Bailey, Aurusha Kharas and Anushka Mahesh, all 22 years old, are hopeful that their period pants will enhance menstrual hygiene across developing nations.
Their venture, The Even Project, has created reusable underwear at a fraction of the usual cost, which typically stands at £27.
Although the product won’t hit the market until March 2025, they’ve already secured 44,000 pre-orders from NGOs, refugee camps, and humanitarian organisations.
The team has now bagged a £15,000 prize as one of the victors of the Santander X UK Awards 2024.
Period pants, worn just as any ordinary knickers, boast additional layers that can hold up to 50ml of liquid. They are simple to clean, by hand or in a washing machine, and are designed to feel the same as standard underwear.
The company was established in 2022, initially adopting a grassroots advocacy approach to persuade businesses to reduce the price of period products.
But after becoming disheartened by the lack of progress the three entrepreneurs decided to create their own. And their low manufacturing costs and simple design enables them keep their costs down to sell at a lower price.
Commenting about their success, Sarah expressed: “None of us ever dreamed of being entrepreneurs – I didn’t even think it was possible.”
She also pointed out that big-name companies, despite being established for years, have overlooked 65% of people who menstruate, stating it as a ‘massive injustice’ given traditional menstrual products have been available for 100 years.
The team’s goal extends to supporting women within the humanitarian field, yet they are equally convinced their innovation will aid those tackling period poverty here in the UK.
Santander has proudly hosted its entrepreneurship contest for 14 years, delivering over £1 million in non-dilutive funds to a multitude of British start-ups and SMEs.
Among the victors on the celebrated evening was 30 year old Tom Scrope, whose enterprise, Soli Benchmark, is poised to transform British agriculture.
Hailing from North Yorkshire, Soli Benchmark introduces artificial intelligence to assist farmers in nurturing their soil with greater environmental consideration.
.Mike Regnier, Santander UK CEO said: “The X Awards are just one way we’re helping the country’s most exciting new entrepreneurs through vital funding, skill-building, and fostering connections along the way. “
“A huge congratulations to this year’s six winners”.