Nike has released One Leak Protection, an innovative leak-proof solution for period concerns ahead of the 2023 Women's World Cup.
Managing menstrual difficulties during athletic events has been a notable concern for women athletes, especially footballers.
The issue became more pronounced last summer during the 2022 UEFA Women's Euros. England players expressed dissatisfaction with wearing white shorts because of period anxiety.
Nike changed the shorts from white to blue (navy and light) ahead of the 2023 Women's World Cup. England's home and away kits have already earned rave reviews for their aesthetic and short redesign. Team New Zealand will also switch from white to teal shorts.
“It’s very nice to have an all-white kit, but sometimes it’s not practical when it’s that time of the month,” said Lionness' striker Beth Mead. She spearheaded a campaign with other team members for the sportswear giant to address the issue.
“We deal with menstruation as best as we can but we discussed the shorts issue together as a team and fed our views through to Nike.”
Even more, the new pro shorts introduce a two-layer leakproof barrier that provides extra protection. Utilizing 3D technology, Nike crafted an under-shorts structure to seamlessly align with the body's contours. Nike will fit all of its thirteen sponsored teams at the Women's World Cup with the propriety leak technology.
Nike is also set to introduce innovative leak protection in one of its highly popular products, the Nike One Short design.
Nike’s Senior Apparel Innovation Project Manager Lisa Gibson addressed tackling the scarcity of menstrual-friendly sportswear options. “We know fear of bleedthrough is very real. It does not just last through the teen years. It lasts the entire adventure with menstruation,” she said.
“Our goal was to create a product that provided leak protection that could be worn alongside a preferred menstrual product of choice, whether that’s a pad, a tampon, a cup, without the added bulk.”
