A Swedish company sets the standard for naturally antibacterial menstrual underwear

HealthTextiles, a pioneering company specializing in innovative textiles based in Gävle, , in collaboration with Monthly of Sweden, has launched a unique series of menstrual underwear that promises to transform women’s experience of comfort and hygiene during menstruation. What sets these products apart is the patented TorTex™ fabric, which is naturally antibacterial and maintains its effectiveness even after hundred washes. HealthTextiles has signed an exclusivity agreement with the customer Monthly of Sweden.

Tomas Persson, founder and chairman of HealthTextiles, describes their innovation as a breakthrough in the industry.

”We are convinced that menstrual underwear made from our TorTex™ fabric will set a new standard for women’s health and comfort during menstruation,” he says. ”Our TorTex™ fabric is the first of its kind and has been rigorously tested by world-leading testing institutes to ensure its natural antibacterial properties.”

One of the most impressive aspects of the TorTex™ fabric is its ability to remain naturally antibacterial even after 100 washes. To verify this property, HealthTextiles chose to collaborate with SGS and Hohenstein, world-leading testing institutes in their respective fields.

SGS, recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity, conducted tests demonstrating that the TorTex™ fabric remains naturally antibacterial even after 100 washes and is effective against staphylococcus.

Furthermore, SGS has verified that the fabric is antiviral against the H1N1 virus, including swine flu. This confirms the fabric’s ability to contribute to increased hygiene and protection for the users.

Hohenstein, a family-owned company with over 75 years of experience in textile testing, conducted a cytotoxic test on the TorTex™ fabric to ensure that it does not emit harmful substances. This is particularly important for medtech products, and the result showed that the TorTex™ fabric does not release any harmful substances.

The naturally antibacterial TorTex™ fabric distinguishes itself from competitors’ products that use silver as a biocide. Silver treatments can lead to antibiotic resistance and environmental pollution when silver ions are washed out of the garments, according to Svenskt Vatten.

Naturally antibacterial means that the TorTex™ fabric is untreated and has a uniquely patented construction of natural fibers. Natural fibers are porous, making it difficult for bacteria to survive, which differs from biocide treatments that kill bacteria.

This can be verified by infectious disease expert from Johns Hopkins University in the USA: Coronavirus survives longer on a solid, non-porous surface compared to porous fabrics, according to infectious disease specialist Juan Dumois from Johns Hopkins University in Florida. He also stated that the coronavirus survives better on ”synthetic fibers” like polyester than on cotton, as reported by the international news service MarketWatch.

Sweden’s leading microbiologist, Peter Landvall, says:

”The most unique advantage I see with HealthTextiles’ TorTex™ fabric is that we can observe the fabric reducing the risk of viruses and bacteria surviving in contact with the fabric.”

Monthly of Sweden launched Monthly Wear, at Apoteket AB, Apotea, Apotek Hjärtat, and Lyko, in its naturally antibacterial menstrual underwear in TorTex™ fabric by the end 2024, with the ambition that these products will set an entirely new international standard for health and hygiene during menstruation.