Nike Leak Protection: Period
Concept Innovator. Content Creator. Lead Apparel Designer.
Periods can be a barrier to sport and movement for teens and adults — physically, mentally and emotionally. Knowing this, Nike created Leak Protection: Period, an ultrathin, absorbent liner that helps protect against period leaks to provide extra comfort and confidence.
The onset of this project was crafted on the inequity of people who menstruate. The entire process involved 30+ rounds of iterating, starting back in 2019 to perfect the design. Researching, designing, and testing all bodies in mind, we created shorts for everyone at all times of their cycle.
Ultra Thin. Absorbant. Invisible.
With significant materials validation and wear testing, the team focused on delivering added protection in a garment to be worn with a tampon, pad or cup. We combined a two-layer laminate gusset and liner that absorbs, wicks and holds blood with a membrane that acts as an anti-leakage barrier.
Fear of Bleed Through
Fear of bleed-through is real — and not just through the teen years, but through the entire journey of menstruation. The lining is invisible so the shorts don’t look or feel like period gear. Putting them on is like wearing any other athletic short, just with hidden backup for that time of the month. This short could be worn with already established systems of protection and dress.
The Process
The team collected deep consumer insights and exploration of products and carried key learnings from the teen girl's insights into the current design, designed for women and menstruation adults and focused on the importance of comfort, layering, and no visible panty line.
The design and development process was very closely linked. Designing in CLO 3d, we created the brief shape to align its' edges with the contour and flection points of the body. From there, we had a cyclical process of design, pattern, prototype, fit physical samples, and repeat.
Each sample informed the fabric combinations, seaming options, and pattern alterations we tried in our prototypes.
The Collection
Nike Leak Protection: Period, an ultrathin, absorbent liner that helps protect against period leaks, is helping expand sport and movement for the next generation, so teens and adults can continue doing what they enjoy with peace of mind.
New Rules
In partnership with athletes and federations Nike is working to change the dress code rules and give people who menstruate choice on the color of shorts they can wear. The new rules are intended to reduce period anxiety for female competitors, but it has also started a welcome dialogue on worry surrounding menstrual mishaps.
In 2023, Women tennis players at Wimbledon were permitted to wear dark undershorts as long as they don’t show beneath their white skirts. This is part of the growing trend of women’s sports announcing all-black shorts with their kits.
*images, copy, and videos courtesy of Nike Inc. and Google Images