SAY GOODBYE TO HOT FLASHES: INTRODUCING THE MENOPAUSE COLLECTION, SLEEPWEAR ENGINEERED FOR COOLNESS, COMFORT AND CONFIDENCE

By: Niki Anastasakis

With Summer around the corner, spending too much time in the sun is a surefire way to trigger a hot flash in an instant, especially as a woman experiencing menopause. While it is a good idea to take advantage of staying indoors in an air conditioned space, The Menopause Collection by Primark now has you covered in a whole new fashion. The new sleepwear and base layer collection is designed to help ease the heat and relieve menopause related symptoms with its lightweight and soft fabric, designed to regulate temperature control. 

Credit: Primark website

What is Menopause?

Menopause affects women aged 45 to 55 and occurs when a woman's period stops and results in the loss of ovarian reproduction function. A woman will then produce less estrogen causing her body to behave in unfamiliar ways, according to the British Menopause Society. Uncomfortable symptoms can start before a woman experiences menopause during the ‘early peri-menopause’ phase leading into the ‘late peri-menopause’ phase and roughly 80-90% of them will experience symptoms according to BMS. Of those, 25% of women report experiencing extremely uncomfortable symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, disturbed sleep and insomnia, low energy levels, low mood, anxiety, low libido and low sex drive, impaired memory,  a sensation of brain fog, achy joints, headaches, palpitations and vagina dryness, and urinary symptoms. The symptoms, which can last for roughly 7 years or more.

When a woman's body goes through these changes, it is imperative for them to optimize their healthy lifestyle, dietary intake and exercise incorporating things like a diet in low saturated fat, regular exercise, less drinking, and practicing relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation. 

What women wear can also influence menopausal symptoms therefore it's important to wear clothing made from natural breathable fabrics like cotton, silk or linen to better help manage body temperature, keep you cool, and help wick away moisture. 

Primark’s Inclusive Approach

Primark, was founded in 1969 and employs more than 80,000 people within Europe and the US. Its focus is to create affordable, sustainable and inclusive fashion that not only protects the environment, but is appealing to consumers of all ages and stages of life. The new menopause collection is a pleasant surprise considering their target audience is typically between 18 - 30. However, Primark is a retailer that reacts to trends quickly to ensure the relevancy of its products.

The new collection uses smart technology fabric that is engineered to keep you cool, comfortable and confident during those pivotal moments in your life when you need a little extra love, comfort and support. The innovative blend of yarn used in the fabric soaks up heat to keep the body cool during hot flashes and gives off heat when your body is feeling chilly. It is also made to release moisture, control odor and give you a fresh feeling with its anti-bacterial coating. 

Underwear and Base Layers 

From bralettes to briefs and camis, the affordable underwear and base layer collection comes in three versatile colors starting a $9 for a two pack. The bralettes are breathable, soft and stretchy with a supportive wire-free cup that looks great under your outfits. The base layers include leggings, tees and camis which are perfect for layering under or with your favorite outfits.

Many women suffer from thigh chafing throughout their lives, but for others, menopause may be the first time they have experienced this painful skin condition, caused from what is playfully known as ‘chub-rub’. The leggings offer anti-chafe, which really shows how much thought has gone into making this collection, making it authentic by targeting solutions by design for real changes women experience during menopause. 

Credit: Primark website

Sleepwear

The Sleepwear Line is designed to be comfortable so women can enjoy a restful night’s sleep despite the inevitable hot flashes and sweating; breathable and stretchy fabrics help with staying cozy and dry. Some designs are comfy long-sleeved matching pajama sets for the cold winter months and there are also short PJ sets for hot summer nights. They also created non-invasive lingerie with an array of styles, prints, and colours to match all personalities.

Credit: Primark website

Celebrities and Menopause

Many celebrities and fashion icons have spoken openly about their menopause experience shedding light on the natural part of aging. It is a part of life that hasn’t really had much open dialogue until recently.

Credit: Alex Nemo Hanse / @thefoolies

Michelle Obama, opened up about how menopause affected her on her podcast ‘The Light Podcast’, during a discussion with her gynecologist, Sharon Malone. 

“I have a very healthy baseline, and also, well, I was experiencing hormone shifts because of infertility, having to take shots and all that,” she said. 

“I experienced the night sweats, even in my 30s, and when you think of the other symptoms that come along, just hot flashes, I mean, I had a few before I started taking hormones.”

“I remember having one on Marine One. I’m dressed, I need to get out, walk into an event, and literally, it was like somebody put a furnace in my core and turned it on high, and then everything started melting. And I thought, well, this is crazy—I can’t, I can’t, I can’t do this,” she said.

Primark has often expanded their consumer base through typical strategies of tapping into trends and offering more product ranges through inclusive design is elevating their brand to a new level. Hopefully, by creating targeted ranges like this one, it will further the conversation surrounding menopause and how other fashion brands can support those who are experiencing this challenging life stage.