CSUN program Go with the Flow held a DIY pad workshop on April 10 from 2-5 p.m., where students learned how to make reusable menstrual pads. 

Go with the Flow is part of Menstrual Equity at CSUN, a program that aims to expand the “accessibility, awareness, and education around menstrual equity,” according to the HERE Center.

Having launched only a few years ago, the workshop was first created as a means to promote sustainable menstruation, which focuses on the use of eco-friendly products during one’s period. Currently, most menstrual hygiene products are not biodegradable and can take up to 800 years to decompose, according to the National Library of Medicine.

“So, the idea is that you move away from the disposable [products] and you try to use more of the reusable ones,” explained co-facilitator of Go with the Flow, Shira Brown. “We wanted to show people that you can make this at home. You don’t even need a sewing machine, you can hand sew it.” 

Along with sustainable menstruation, the DIY pad workshop also addressed period poverty or the lack of access to proper menstrual products due to financial limitations.

“It is estimated that about $18,000 is spent on disposable menstrual products [in an individual’s lifetime],” said Go with the Flow peer ambassador Elisa Vidauri. “Imagine if you just use reusable ones, it will last you years compared to a one-time use [product]. So, it’s good for your wallet.”

During the event, students were given supply kits to make the menstrual pads. The items included layers of fabric, cotton and buttons. Through instructional videos, attendees were shown step-by-step, how to use a sewing machine and bind the provided supplies together.

While details are not yet confirmed, Go with the Flow would like to host another DIY workshop in the fall semester. Instead of pads, however, the event would focus on making wet bags that can hold reusable menstrual products. Wet bags are commonly used to store soiled items such as diapers.

“That might be a nice complement to what we’re doing already,” Brown said. “We’re always looking for new products and new ways to talk about things.”

Correction: Go With the Flow co-facilitator Lisa Chaudari was previously attributed in the following quotes instead of co-facilitator, Shira Brown:

“So, the idea is that you move away from the disposable [products] and you try to use more of the reusable ones. We wanted to show people that you can make this at home. You don’t even need a sewing machine, you can hand sew it.”

“That might be a nice complement to what we’re doing already. We’re always looking for new products and new ways to talk about things.”

Corrections have been made to accurately reflect Shira Brown’s attribution.