The collection includes camisoles and bras, as well as normal-looking "kinda sexy cute" knickers.
The collection includes camisoles and bras, as well as normal-looking "kinda sexy cute" knickers.
It might seem like an oxymoron, but in a runway world first, a new line of high fashion incontinence lingerie will take the stage at New Zealand Fashion Week this year.
Confitex, a New Zealand company, seeks to redefine incontinence underwear with a sexy edge.
Designer Frantisek Riha-Scott says theglamorous, yet functional collection was inspired by the harsh beauty of New Zealand.
Company founders, alpine ski racers Mark Davey and Frantisek Riha-Scott.
"New Zealand is very lovely but can also be quite dark and mysterious, and dangerous," says Riha-Scott.
The collection includes camisoles and bras, as well as normal-looking "kinda sexy cute" knickers.
It's an empowering vision which the designer hopes will help women feel good about themselves, despite a somewhat embarrassing problem.
"We think a stylish woman who wears designer clothes would like to wear attractive underwear underneath that doesn't require a pad," says Riha-Scott.
"So we wanted to create lingerie that was fashionable and sexy, as well as functional, and which genuinely helped people and restored their confidence. We wanted to make them feel good.
"And we wanted the whole world to know that no-one needs to wear diapers. They can wear good-looking lingerie."
Confitex uses a special high-tech sports fabric to create absorbent, pad-free, waterproof knickers and boxer shorts that are machine washable, aimed at the the one in three women worldwide with incontinence, and the one in 10 men.
Prior to developing products for incontinence, Confitex founders Frantisek Riha-Scott and Mark Davey designed pants for athletes who didn't have time for toilet breaks - both being keen ski-racers.
Confitex's Fashion Week collection is starkly different to most incontinence underwear.
After being approached by family members, they decided to branch out.
Riha-Scott says, "We made the underwear for family and in the process realised there was a huge need out there."
Business partner Davey adds that "when we first saw what was on the market we were shocked. No wonder the self-esteem of people with incontinence is so badly affected."
"We decided we wanted to challenge the status quo and break the taboo around this very common problem. Our underwear, which is very stylish, should go a long way towards doing that."
Riha-Scott says the focus on fashion is important and the company are "definitely not making nappies".
The Confitex collection will be shown as part of the Contemporary Salon Show at Fashion Week, 24 to 30 August, in The Tent, Viaduct Events Centre, Auckland.
