Who We Are
Dignity
for every
Woman.
Banasree is a woman-led social enterprise. We believe menstrual hygiene management cannot begin with pads — it must begin with underwear.
The Invisible Gap
Without
Under
wear.
Governments distributed sanitary pads — but forgot the one thing women need first. Without underwear, there is nowhere to put a pad.
1 in 4 women
IN INDIA LACK ACCESS TO SAFE MENSTRUAL HEALTH & HYGIENE PRODUCTS
Only 20%
SALES OF WOMEN'S UNDERWEAR ARE ACCOUNTED FROM RURAL MARKETS IN INDIA
No Data
NO SURVEY, NO SCHEME, NO POLICY ADDRESSES UNDERWEAR
The Solution
Safe
and
Sustainable.
A safe & sustainable underwear — on which pads can be used, providing a feeling of safety and intimate cover, and helping contain vaginal discharge.
100% Cotton
BREATHABLE, SKIN SAFE, INDIAN CLIMATE FRIENDLY, BIODEGRADEABLE
Women-Led
DESIGNED, MANUFACTURED AND DISTRIBUTED BY WOMEN ACROSS INDIA
Special Needs
ADAPTIVE UNDERWEAR FOR DISABLED, POST-PARTUM UNDERWEAR FOR MOTHERS
Our Mission
Public.
Not
Private.
We turn against seeing women's needs as "private" & "indulgent". We provide public support through partnerships & advocacy.
Distribution
Underwear delivered directly — no barriers, no shame.
Education
Community workshops breaking the silence and building habits.
Advocacy
DOCUMENTING GRASSROOT VOICES TO INFLUENCE POLICY FRAMEWORKS FOR MEANINGFUL CHANGE
Intimate dignity is not a privilege. It is a basic human right — and it starts with underwear.
A basic need,
left invisible
for too long.
India distributes pads but has no programme for the underwear women need to use them. The hygiene chain breaks at its most intimate link.
1 in 4 women
An estimated 1 in 4 women in India still lack access to menstrual hygiene products like underwear, sanitary pads, tampons & menstrual cups
Only 20%
Only 20% of total underwear sales come from the rural markets even though 71% of Indian women live in rural areas. This means the majority of sales (80%) is coming only from urban Indian cities where women have social, economic and physical access to products for their everyday needs.
No Data
No survey, no scheme, no policy addresses underwear. Menstruation is stigmatised. Underwear is a deeper silence.
Silence
Without underwear, there is no functional ground for menstrual hygiene products to work. The hygiene chain breaks at its most intimate link.
Only 20% of total underwear sales come from the rural markets even though 71% of Indian women live in rural areas. This means the majority of sales (80%) is coming only from urban Indian cities where women have social, economic and physical access to products for their everyday needs.
"Dignity begins with underwear."
Underwear is not
a luxury. It is dignity.
Banasree designs and distributes sustainable organic cotton underwear to women in underserved communities across India — restoring autonomy, health, and self-respect to women systematically overlooked by policy.
100% Cotton
Breathable, skin safe, Indian climate friendly, biodegradeable
Women-Led
Designed, manufactured and distributed by women across India
Special Needs
Adaptive underwear for disabled, post-partum underwear for mothers
Their words,
Our Research.
Voice 01"We often re-stitch our old underwear and reuse them because we cannot buy."
Voice 02"Whatever we earn goes to our children's education. Buying underwear for ourselves feels selfish."
Voice 03"Even if I want to buy underwear, the shopkeeper laughs and says there are none my size."
Voice 04"Some women think underwear is only for the rich."
Voice 05"If someone sees it hanging, they will laugh, so I dry my underwear near the fire at night."
From workshops
to doorsteps —
our reach is real.
Banasree's work spans design, manufacturing, education, and advocacy. We build entire ecosystems of intimate dignity — not just distribute products.
View Impact ReportDirect Distribution Drives
Reaching women in rural villages, urban slums and tribal communities with dignity kits containing sustainable underwear & other essentials
Women-Led Manufacturing
Ensuring that the products reaching other women are designed to respond to their needs – be it for menstruation, disability, post-partum support etc.
Policy Advocacy
Using digital, print and networking platforms to advocate for including underwear in menstrual hygiene policy frameworks at state, national and global level.
Collaborations
Building coalitions with organisations in women's health, education, empowerment and sustainable development nationally and globally.
Our Distribution
Work.
Click any photo to explore. Dignity kits reaching women and girls across rural India — one community at a time.
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