Lunapads | Early Modern Washable Pads and Period Underwear

Lunapads washable cloth pads were one of the first modern alternative period product brands to emerge and succeed. Based in Canada, Lunapads was founded by Madeleine Shaw and Suzanne Siemens. A brand focused on chemical-free period products, they began by offering reusable washable cloth pads in colorful designs that used a metal snap to securely wrap around the underwear.

The Lunapads story started in 1993 when Madeleine Shaw, a fashion designer, started developing washable menstrual pads after experiencing health complications as a result of using chlorine-bleached tampons. Unwilling to use environmentally unfriendly (not to mention uncomfortable!) disposable pads, she began applying her sewing skills towards developing the fabulous Lunapads.

Everyware Designs was the name of Madeleine’s proprietorship that she founded in 1993. It changed names when the company incorporated Lunapads International Products Ltd. in 2000. Early Lunapads were just called “Luna” (see attached images) until the domain www.lunapads.com was purchased in 1996 or 1997, at which point they formally became called Lunapads.

The brand grew and in the early 2000s, they sold the first modern commercially available period underwear, Lunapanties.

1. Liner/leaflet/underwear image, clockwise from left

• Lunapads cupcake print Mini Liner, 100% cotton (circa 2005)
• Lunapads.com marketing leaflet (circa 2000)
• Lunapads period underwear, 100% organic cotton (circa 2002)

2. Pads/Liners image, clockwise from left

• Lunapads cupcake print Mini Liner, 100% cotton (circa 2005)
• Everyware Designs* Luna cool cats print Maxi pad, 100% cotton (circa 1998)
• Lunapads celestial cycles print Mini Liner, 100% cotton (circa 2003)
• Lunapads llama print Long Liner, 100% cotton (circa 2005)
• Everyware Designs* Luna floral print Maxi pad + insert, 100% cotton (circa 1998)
• Lunapads groovy print Mini Liner, 100% cotton (circa 2004)

Today Lunapads operates as the brand Period Aisle. In 2024 founders, Madeleine Shaw and Suzanne Siemens, sold the company to another Canadian-owned period wellness brand, Somedays.

Period Nirvana’s Menstrual Museum was gifted a collection of Everyware pads, Lunapads, and Lunapanties by Madeleine Shaw in 2024.

Browse Lunapads.com circa 2002 thanks to the Internet Archive.