Katie Piper debuted a period lingerie brand, Piper, that she believes will help families speak more openly about menstruation. Launching the new brand on 3 November, Piper revealed that conversations about periods were still happening in whispers. She also questioned why discussions about menstruation did not involve the entire family, particularly fathers.
Katie Piper believes conversations about periods should happen more openly, and it was an experience close to home that made her realise how much still needs to change. When her eldest daughter, Belle, got her first period at the age of 11, the television presenter began thinking about the support and resources available to young girls navigating menstruation.
For her, the issue went beyond finding suitable sanitary products. It was also about making sure young girls felt supported and comfortable discussing a natural part of growing up.
Katie Piper Wants to Take Period Conversations Out of Whispers
Menstruation is a normal part of life, yet it can still be treated as an awkward subject, particularly within families. Piper's experience with Belle made her consider how parents could better support their daughters through puberty without making periods seem like something that needed to be kept quiet.
She also highlighted the role fathers could play in these conversations. Rather than leaving menstrual education entirely to mothers, she wanted to encourage men to become more involved in understanding what their daughters experience.
'Her dad is a really present father,' she said in an August interview with The Mirror, 'and having conversations at home, talking to her about what was available, we realised there wasn't as much as I would like – that conversations around periods were still being whispered rather than talked about openly, and didn't include men.'
Her Daughter Belle Helped Shape the Business Idea
Belle's first period was the starting point for Piper, but her involvement did not end with inspiring the idea. The young girl has reportedly been part of the project throughout its development.
Her experience prompted her mother to look more closely at the products and resources available to girls entering puberty. She wanted to explore whether menstrual care could be made more accessible and seek better ways to support young customers and their families. That thinking eventually led to Piper, which brings together period underwear and menstrual well-being.
'I don't use tampons, so period pants are my go-to. I wear them all the time, and for me, they're simply part of my underwear drawer. But you don't have to be on your period to wear them,' she said about the product.
'They can be that extra bit of reassurance at the gym or when your cycle becomes less predictable during perimenopause,' she added. 'And even after your periods stop, you might still want absorbent underwear for everyday discharge.'
The brand offers reusable period underwear designed to provide menstrual protection while looking like everyday lingerie. It also caters to different age groups, including younger customers who may be navigating their periods for the first time. Piper additionally offers a free period-tracking app, allowing users to monitor their cycles and better understand their menstrual patterns.
Katie Piper's Response to a Problem? 'I Could Change It!'
Piper's decision to launch the brand also reflects how she approaches problems she believes deserve more attention. Rather than simply accepting that menstrual care conversations and resources could be better, she decided to explore how she could contribute to changing them. The presenter also sees the project as something that can continue developing rather than remaining limited to its initial products.
During her interview with The Mirror, the presenter summed up her entrepreneurial mindset with the words: 'I'm somebody – I could change it!'
Why Piper Is Not Another SKIMS
Although the brand operates within the lingerie market, Piper has been keen to distinguish it from celebrity-led shapewear businesses. She has reportedly clarified that she is not attempting to create another SKIMS, the underwear and shapewear company founded by Kim Kardashian.
The difference lies in the purpose behind the products. While SKIMS is associated with shapewear and body-enhancing underwear, Piper is centred on menstrual care. Its focus is on reusable period protection, cycle awareness, and making conversations about menstruation more accessible.
For Piper, the business is rooted in something much more personal than entering the celebrity fashion market. Belle's first period made her think about the experience of young girls and the support they need from their families. It also encouraged her to question why something so ordinary could still be difficult to discuss openly.
What began as a conversation at home has since developed into a business with ambitions beyond underwear. And if her plans continue to grow, Piper could become another way of bringing an often-whispered subject into everyday conversation.
