GladRags

GladRags is a Portland, Oregon-based menstrual-care company known for reusable cloth menstrual pads and reusable menstrual cups. Founded in 1993 by Brenda Mallory and Karen Paule, the brand developed in the context of growing interest in alternatives to disposable feminine-hygiene products. Its core proposition is that menstrual products can be washable, durable, and usable over an extended period rather than discarded after a single cycle. The company's best-known products are reusable cloth pads made from cotton flannel. The pads fold around underwear and fasten with snaps, and product sets include a holder and absorbent inserts. They are offered in different colors and patterns and are designed for repeated machine washing. GladRags states that its cloth pads can last for at least five years, although actual longevity depends on use and care. Consumers may use the pads alone or combine them with other reusable products, including menstrual cups and period underwear. GladRags also sells the XO Flo reusable silicone menstrual cup. The cup is intended to collect menstrual fluid rather than absorb it and can be cleaned and reused across cycles. The brand formerly served as the principal distributor of the Moon Cup brand, giving it a role in the early U.S. distribution of reusable menstrual cups in addition to its own product development. Sustainability is central to GladRags' positioning. Reusability reduces the volume of disposable menstrual products purchased and discarded, while the products' longer service lives can appeal to consumers seeking lower recurring costs. The brand has been associated with zero-waste and environmentally conscious consumption, although reusable menstrual products still require water, energy, and cleaning supplies during their life cycle. GladRags products have also been discussed alongside other lower-waste options such as reusable period underwear, menstrual discs, natural sea sponges, and compostable products. GladRags has described itself as women-owned and women-operated and has worked with a women-owned sewing company and other organizations. The company received B Corporation certification in 2012, reflecting an effort to formalize social and environmental commitments. Tracy Puhl has led the business since 2011 and was recognized in 2013 as Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Oregon and Southwest Washington by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The brand serves a niche within the broader feminine-hygiene market: consumers who prioritize waste reduction, product reusability, material preferences, or long-term value. Its products are also relevant to people looking for alternatives to conventional disposable pads and tampons. Publicly available reference material provides limited information about GladRags' current ownership structure, revenue, employee count, geographic expansion, or detailed recent operating performance.

GladRags was established in 1993 by Brenda Mallory and Karen Paule in the United States. Mallory's interest in reusable cloth diapers helped inspire the company's focus on washable menstrual products. At a time when disposable pads and tampons dominated the market, GladRags positioned reusable cloth pads as an alternative based on durability, lower recurring consumption, and reduced dependence on single-use materials. The company became associated with the broader movement toward reusable and environmentally oriented menstrual care. Its cloth pads use absorbent fabric and attach around underwear with snaps. A typical product configuration includes a holder and removable inserts, allowing the absorbent components to be washed and reused. The company has described the pads as machine-washable and designed for multi-year use, with an expected life of at least five years under suitable conditions. Different colors and patterns helped present reusable products as consumer goods rather than purely utilitarian substitutes. GladRags subsequently expanded beyond cloth pads into reusable menstrual cups. It sells the XO Flo cup, made from reusable silicone, and historically served as the primary distributor of the Moon Cup brand. This participation in cup distribution placed GladRags within the development of the reusable-cup category in the United States, where cups offered a different collection method from both disposable tampons and external cloth pads. The company has emphasized women-centered ownership and operations. It has also partnered with a women-owned sewing company and other organizations, connecting its supply and partnership practices with its social mission. In 2011, Tracy Puhl began leading the company. Puhl's business leadership was publicly recognized in 2013, when the U.S. Small Business Administration selected her as Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Oregon and Southwest Washington. In 2012, GladRags became a certified B Corporation. The certification was consistent with the brand's emphasis on environmental responsibility and social impact, although certification alone does not establish the company's complete environmental performance or current governance structure. GladRags has been discussed as an option for consumers attempting to reduce the cost and waste associated with disposable menstrual products. It is often grouped with menstrual cups, natural sea-sponges, reusable period underwear, menstrual discs, and other products marketed to environmentally conscious or zero-waste consumers. Its products can be used in different combinations depending on personal preference and menstrual flow. Public reference material does not provide a complete chronology of product launches, ownership changes, financial results, manufacturing scale, or current market distribution. Accordingly, the documented history is strongest around the company's founding, product category, leadership under Tracy Puhl, B Corporation certification, and sustainability-oriented positioning.

• 2013

  Leadership recognition for Tracy Puhl

  [1]GladRagsen.wikipedia.org

  The U.S. Small Business Administration recognizes Tracy Puhl as Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Oregon and Southwest Washington.

• 2012

  B Corporation certification

  [1]GladRagsen.wikipedia.org

  GladRags is first certified as a B Corporation.

• 2011

  Tracy Puhl begins leading the company

  [1]GladRagsen.wikipedia.org

  Tracy Puhl takes leadership of GladRags and subsequently becomes associated with the company's continuing operation and sustainability-focused identity.

• 1993

  GladRags is founded

  [1]GladRagsen.wikipedia.org

  Brenda Mallory and Karen Paule establish GladRags as a company focused on reusable menstrual-care products.

Sustainable, reusable, women-owned menstrual care for environmentally conscious and zero-waste-oriented consumers.

• Reusable menstrual pad

  GladRags reusable cloth pads

  GladRags' core product line consists of washable cloth menstrual pads made with soft cotton flannel. The pads fold around underwear and use snaps to stay in place. Sets include a holder and absorbent inserts, and the line is offered in multiple patterns and colors. The products are intended for repeated machine washing and are designed to remain usable for at least five years, making them a durable alternative to disposable pads. Some users combine them with menstrual cups or other reusable period products.

• Reusable menstrual cup

  XO Flo

  XO Flo is a reusable menstrual cup made from silicone. It collects menstrual fluid internally and can be cleaned and reused across menstrual cycles. The cup extends GladRags' offering beyond external cloth pads and gives consumers an alternative collection method to disposable tampons and absorbent pads.

• Reusable menstrual cup distribution

  Moon Cup distribution

  GladRags was formerly the primary distributor of the Moon Cup brand. This historical distribution role connected the company with the reusable menstrual-cup category before the brand's current portfolio emphasis on its own products.

• 2012

  Formalization of social and environmental commitments through B Corporation certificationStrategy

  Background

  GladRags had built its brand around reusable menstrual products and environmentally conscious consumption.

  Action taken

  The company obtained its first B Corporation certification.

  Aftermath

  The certification reinforced GladRags' public positioning as a socially and environmentally oriented business. Available material does not specify later recertification details or measurable financial effects.

  Source

1. 1GladRagsen.wikipedia.org