Views: 0 Author: Ocean Yang Publish Time: 2026-01-19 Origin: Ljvogues
Absorbency is the #1 consumer concern in period underwear because it directly determines trust: one leak can cost a brand years of credibility. At Ljvogues, most product development conversations begin with the same questions—“How many milliliters can it hold?”, “Is it for day or night?”, and “How do we prove it?”—because absorbency is both an engineering target and a marketing promise.
One challenge in this category is that many brands use “light / moderate / heavy” language, but the definitions can vary unless you anchor them to measurable capacity and consistent test methods. For brands selling globally, it helps to communicate both ml capacity and “tampon/pad equivalents,” while documenting the test approach used.
A practical, consumer-friendly way to define absorbency is to map each level to ml and everyday product equivalents. For example, one published guide lists: Light <5 ml; Moderate 10–15 ml; Super 20–25 ml; Super Plus 30–35 ml with tampon/pad or cup equivalents.
In related absorbent product categories (notably incontinence), ISO 11948-1 is a recognized method for measuring whole-product absorption capacity by weighing a product dry, soaking it in test liquid, draining, and weighing it wet to calculate capacity. The same ISO-based logic—clear test liquid, controlled conditions, repeatable measurement—matters because it separates “marketing absorbency” from technical absorbency.
Equivalency ratings are useful for shoppers, but they must be internally consistent with your ml targets and your construction. Some brands publish equivalencies such as “0.5–1 regular tampon” for lighter products and “7–9 super tampons” for ultra products, showing how wide the spectrum can be.
Absorbency is not only “how thick the gusset is”; it is the interaction of layers, fiber structure, coverage area, and barrier stability. In manufacturing, gusset design is where period underwear becomes a true technical product.
In the market, 4-layer systems are common because they separate functions cleanly: a skin-contact layer, an absorbent core, a leak-proof barrier, and an outer/support layer. Some products add layers (5-layer) for higher capacity, faster wicking, or improved odor control, while simpler 3-layer builds may target lighter flow and thinner feel.
Common performance stacks mix soft face fabrics (cotton/bamboo/TENCEL blends), engineered absorbent cores (often microfiber or other high-absorbency textiles), and waterproof barriers (often TPU/PUL-type laminations). The “best” combination depends on your price tier, target customer sensitivity, drying expectations, and whether PFAS-free claims are required.
As absorbency increases, brands must manage trade-offs: more capacity often means more layers or higher GSM materials, which can reduce breathability and increase drying time. In my experience, the smartest approach is to tune absorbency not only by “thickness,” but by zone mapping (front/back coverage) and material efficiency so products feel wearable, not bulky.
Brands succeed when absorbency levels are designed around real-life use cases rather than generic labels. At Ljvogues, we typically recommend building a tiered absorbency lineup that matches the customer’s age group, lifestyle, and comfort expectations.
Teens often prioritize comfort, confidence at school, and “no fear of leaks,” while also needing easy-care guidance because first-time users may misuse washing and drying. Teen-focused collections also commonly favor fuller coverage cuts (boyshorts/high rise) to reduce shifting during movement.
Postpartum and light incontinence use cases often demand higher capacity, wider coverage, and stronger barrier security, and some brands explicitly market “urine + period + sweat” performance in their highest absorbency tiers. For this segment, it is especially important to anchor claims to testable capacity (ml) and durability, because users may wear products for extended hours.
Night designs often require extended absorbent coverage (especially toward the back) and higher capacity to handle longer wear time and different sleeping positions. Day designs can prioritize thinner feel, faster drying, and a broader style assortment (bikini, thong, seamless) for wardrobe versatility.
For brands, the technical product is only as good as the bulk-production consistency—so testing must happen as a repeatable protocol, not a one-time lab event. I advise brands to define a testing plan across development, pre-production, and ongoing production to ensure claims remain true over time.
Leak protection should be validated not only by total absorption capacity, but by construction integrity: barrier positioning, edge sealing, and resistance to side leakage during movement. Because ISO-style total-capacity tests can overestimate “real-use hold,” many categories also use additional leakage-performance evaluations beyond capacity alone.
Period underwear is reusable, so wash durability directly affects both sustainability and customer satisfaction. For example, one independent testing approach ran period underwear through 48 wash cycles and 10 dryer cycles to evaluate wear and tear over time, showing how structured wash testing can be.
Odor-control claims should be handled carefully, because they can depend on fabric chemistry, finishes, and user washing habits. If odor control is part of your brand positioning, it should be validated through material selection and documented testing rather than vague “antibacterial” language that could trigger compliance risk in some markets.
Absorbency is not only a spec sheet item—it is the core of your brand promise, your customer reviews, and your reorder rate. The most effective strategy is to define clear absorbency tiers (with ml + equivalency), match them to targeted styles and use cases, and back everything with repeatable testing and QC controls.
At Ljvogues, my team supports brands by translating positioning (“teen confidence,” “heavy-flow overnight,” “postpartum + light leaks,” “PFAS-free comfort”) into a manufacturable absorbency architecture—gusset design, materials stack, test plan, and scalable production controls. If you share your target market, required absorbency range, and preferred fabric direction, we can recommend the most efficient OEM/ODM development route and testing roadmap to launch with confidence.
Ocean Yang
