This period-proof swimwear is perfect for summers by the beach

Swim without worry

AWWA swimwear is the period-proof solution you've been waiting for. Image: Supplied

Beach days are always a little less fun when you've got your period. But this period-proof swimwear from New Zealand brand AWWA is set to change the game. 

As the weather warms up, pretty much all I want to do is be submerged in water, at all times. And for the most part, I do my best to make that a reality. 

Weekend beach days, trips up or down the coast, after-work dips, and hours spent floating in people’s pools – if there’s anything we’re good at as Australians, it’s water divining. 

Of course for women and girls, there are other things to keep in mind when heading for a swim. Namely, whether you have your period, and the best way to navigate a beach trip if you do. 

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These days there are so many ways to manage menstruation; from traditional methods like contraceptives or tampons, to moon cups, reusable pads and period underwear.  

All are great, but obviously not all of them are appropriate for the water, nor are they all ideal for various stages of your menstrual cycle. Using tampons on the first and last day of a period is akin to modern day torture and I will not hear another word about it. But that doesn’t mean you want to lie on the beach without a bit of back up. 

Whilst on a beach holiday in Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, Māori entrepreneur Michele Wilson got her period (typical), and was considering the best way to manage her period, without contributing to waste on the small island. 

“Looking at my two girls playing I began to think, what does the future look like for them and why is it 2018 (at the time) and there are no modern comfortable options?” she tells Body+Soul. 

Upon returning home, Wilson called her best friend Kylie Matthews, along with manufacturers, and AWWA was born – an inclusive, periodcare underwear brand, with a swimwear range.

“The swimwear range is made for light period days or as an extra layer of protection in the water,” says Wilson. “The purpose of the swimwear is so that you can enjoy spending time in the water without having to worry about leakages.” 

The swimwear comes in two styles: a one-piece and high-waisted two-piece, which can be bought as a set or as separates. 

The pieces are made from quick dry, recycled nylon and elastane, with a polyester and elastane lining. The high-tech fibres are made for rapid absorption, so they’re leak-proof without weighing down the fabric.  They’re also anti-microbial and totally safe to use, with no risk of toxic shock syndrome.

The AWWA one-piece costs $106 and the bikini, $69 – which is cheaper than most swimwear that doesn’t include the high-tech absorbency software of this period-proof range. 

AWWA period-proof swimwear is leak proof and anti-microbial. Image: Supplied

From trying out the one-piece myself, I was delighted by how non-period swimwear-y they felt – in comfort and appearance. 

You’d never be able to tell the swimwear is made for periods (I polled my friends), and even when they’re wet there’s no saggy bottom situation, nor does it feel like you’re wearing a nappy. 

I was also very pleasantly surprised by how well the absorbent crotch moulded to my body, I couldn’t feel it at all. Given the pieces are black with a flattering matte-sheen finish, and how comfortable they are, I would genuinely wear the one-piece as a bodysuit on a non-period day. They’re chic, trust me. 

“If you’re enjoying the outdoors all day long, the swimwear will offer you all the protection you need on your own flow for the duration of one regular pad or tampon,” says Wilson. 

The period underwear comes in styles that work for heavier flows too, and can actually be shopped by the level of protection you need – light, moderate, heavy and teens. 

For Wilson, AWWA represents more than just period care. It’s a brand rooted in change. 

Period-proof swimwear in particular helps to drastically improve wellbeing by building confidence, empowering women, and removing stigma and shame around menstruation. The founders are also determined to end period poverty in New Zealand, which will play a great role in reducing inequalities between genders at large. 

The entire collection, of swimwear and underwear, is also available in an inclusive size range, spanning 3XS to 6XL, which Wilson says “forms part of our inclusive policy which sits alongside some of our other commitments such as being certified for carbon positive for business operations and living wage accredited employer.”

For Wilson, the way society approaches periods as a whole also needs an update. 

“My personal philosophy is that women can do anything; we just can’t do everything. And we certainly can’t do it all when we have our ikura (periods),” she says. 

“In a business surrounded by wāhine toa (strong women) the discussion of women merely surviving instead of thriving happens daily.”

The AWWA swim range comes in 3XS to 6XL. Image: Supplied

She continues, “We have until now been bombarded with messaging that says, when we have our periods, we can do it all – play sport, work, even swim without leaking blood. 

“Is this what we want the next generation of girls and boys to believe? [That] even when we’re bleeding, tired and sore, we’re still expected to be productive and put on a brave face?” 

“Something had to change and continues to need to change.”

Periods are not a weakness, but they are a consideration – as evidenced by the way athletes and elite sporting institutes are adjusting the way they train based on the stages of their cycles.

In Wilson’s eyes, by understanding our cycles and “the importance of rest and support as a pathway to productivity” rather than busyness, we open up a new way forward for women – one that works with biology rather than against it.

AWWA’s swimrange has been developed with all of this in mind, making it possible for people who get periods to still do the things they love (like swimming), in a way that’s sustainable and inclusive, without ever hindering productivity. 

You can shop the full range of period-proof swimwear and underwear at awwaperiodcare.com

Originally published as This period-proof swimwear is perfect for summers by the beach