Three layers. Each one doing a specific job.
Printed cotton woven, or organic cotton in solid colours. Soft, breathable, gentle. No plastic feel, no synthetic surface. This is the layer that determines how your pad actually feels to wear — and it's the one I spend the most time thinking about.
Super heavy organic bamboo fleece for moderate and heavy absorbency pads. 280gsm organic bamboo fleece for light absorbency. Cotton flannel (two layers) for liners. The core is matched to the absorbency level — not one blanket material across everything.
Soft shell fleece (black) for moderate and heavy pads. Soft shell fleece (white) or anti-pill polar fleece for light absorbency. Plain cotton for daily use liners — though liners can be backed in anti-pill fleece too if you prefer, for $6.50 each.
Most brands use fleece toppers. I don't. Here's why.
Microfleece is popular as a topper because it wicks moisture away quickly — you feel dry even when the pad is wet. That sounds great in theory. In practice, for a lot of people with sensitive skin, it can still cause irritation. It's also synthetic, which isn't ideal against already sensitive skin.
Printed cotton woven is different. It's a natural fibre. It breathes. It's gentle. It doesn't have the same wicking property as fleece — you feel slightly more moisture — but for many people that feedback is actually more comfortable, not less. You feel the pad doing its job rather than masking it.
The other reason is purely practical and a little bit joyful: printed cotton comes in hundreds of beautiful prints. Your pad can look exactly like you — which sounds small, but when you're choosing something you'll use every month for years, it genuinely matters.
A side-by-side comparison
- Microfleece or minky topper (synthetic)
- Standard fleece cores — one weight for everything
- Limited print options, mostly plain or pastel
- Fixed sizes with little customisation
- Moisture wicking (you feel dry, pad may be saturated)
- Printed cotton woven or organic cotton (natural fibre)
- Core matched to absorbency — bamboo fleece or flannel
- Hundreds of fabric prints to choose from
- Custom length within every absorbency level
- Breathable fabric — gentle, honest feel
What's against your skin for days a month shouldn't be an afterthought
Disposable pads contain chemicals, synthetic fibres, fragrances, and bleaching agents — sitting against some of the most sensitive skin on your body, every cycle, for years. Most people never question it because they've never known anything different.
An average menstruator uses 10,000 to 12,000 disposable pads in their lifetime. That's over 150kg of non-biodegradable waste per person — and a lot of synthetic, chemically treated material against your skin over a very long time. Switching to natural fibres isn't just better for the planet. It's better for your body.
Every material in a Wonder Pad was chosen with that in mind. Natural where possible. Matched to function. Free from harsh chemicals. Durable enough to last for years with proper care.