It’s Time to Get Your Knickers in a Twist

‍My mission is to ensure that every woman, regardless of circumstance, has access to new and clean underwear. It’s a basic right; and one that impacts a woman’s dignity, health, and overall well-being. In situations of poverty, displacement, or crisis, underwear is often the last thing considered and the first thing overlooked. That’s why I set up Let's Get Our Knickers in a Twist.

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Where It All Began - The First Brief

42. Forty-two. I have 42 pairs of knickers in my underwear drawer. Don’t get me wrong, a lot are old, extremely unflattering, and elastic-less, but for 18 years of my life I never measured my privilege through how many pairs of pants I had collected over the years. 

From the age of 16, my mum had taken me to a women’s refuge half an hour from where we lived to volunteer, help out at Christmas, and to donate and fundraise what we could. The women there, both clients and staff, welcomed us so warmly into their world. I learnt why a lot of the women seeking support were in the situations they were in, and how the refuge tries their best to support them and provide solutions. 

The aspect of my experience that caused a complete shift in my perspective was their advisory sessions; designated time for the client to explain to their keyworkers what is currently going on in their lives, and an opportunity to discuss any areas they are worrying about or may be struggling with. These sessions consisted of sharing the most personal information one could share, often also recalling very traumatic experiences. The clients were always so supportive of me sitting in on these sessions, and I will never forget this kindness. More often than not, when their key workers asked if I could join these meetings, the response was, “if it means it helps her help other women in situations like mine, then absolutely”. Since then, it has been my pleasure to take on that responsibility.

Of course, not everyone has the resources, time or emotional strength to help others, but I do think that with inherent privilege comes a great responsibility. Most people have the time to do a little something for others who truly need it, and in a world of “I’m just a drop in the ocean”, I am a big believer that every little helps. Even if it’s a tiny act of kindness, you have no idea the difference that will make to someone else, and I always think that, ultimately, that makes it worth it. 

In the summer after my first year of university I decided to put my passion for women empowerment into action. I had always wanted to start something, but I was never sure what, or how. When helping my mum fundraise for my local women’s refuge, we found that whenever we asked what they needed most, it was always knickers. Underwear. Pants. 

“The women fleeing domestic abuse and coming to us from their own home and surroundings, already often feel worthless and degraded and then for us to offer them someone else's underwear, we feel is a step too far. The joy and relief on their faces when they see the underwear is new, is evidence that we are doing the right thing, and they always appreciate this small gesture. It's always the small things in life that have the biggest impact, isn't it.” Refuge Worker

I soon realised that I had never really thought of donating pants; and that nobody else had, either. I then realised that this is why there’s such a shortage in places where people need them most. There exists a general lack of awareness around this basic need. Many of us haven’t considered what a personal luxury owning multiple pairs of underwear actually is, much less thought about the plight of those who don’t have even one pair. 

Thinking about it more, I realised donating underwear requires a conscious effort and a different kind of sacrifice. While it’s easy to pass on used clothes, buying new underwear to donate demands more – more intention, more resources, and more time. Through lots of personal research and hands-on experience in volunteering settings, I began to understand the reasons why there was such a huge lack of underwear where it’s needed most. Underwear is expensive and for those experiencing financial hardship it may not be an option to purchase new underwear and if you receive clothing donations but not knicker ones, you are left in a sticky situation. Many women also prioritise their children’s needs when shopping and may not have the resources to provide for themselves too. If forced to choose between underwear and sanitary products, this also creates a disparity in gynaecological resources. So, I realised this was going to be my mission. To spread awareness about Pant Poverty and try and fundraise some brand-new knickers for ladies who need them most.

It was then time to come up with a name for this campaign, and I found myself deliberating over all the underwear puns out there. 

Then, a phrase popped into my head: “Don’t get your knickers in a twist!” Is it a misogynistic and harmful put-down, or is it just a bit of fun? Who knows. But I decided that it is time to get our knickers in a twist, and reclaim the phrase, if you will. 

I wanted the campaign to challenge stereotypes and break down stigma. I wanted it to highlight that nothing worth doing comes easy, and that we do have to get our knickers in a twist to drive the change that is so desperately needed. I chose ‘Let’s’ (as in, let us) to symbolise community and unity, standing as a reminder that meaningful progress is a team effort. 

Day one following the launch of the campaign on Instagram came around, and we probably received a following of about 200 people; a perfect basis to start on. By the end of the week, we had raised over £1000, and every day new people were dropping by my house with knicker donations they had gone out and bought. Amazed at everyone’s immediate generosity, it became very apparent that the university environment was the perfect place to spread the word and get people involved. Something that I learnt very quickly was that people want to get involved with something, you just have to make it happen, and make it easy! 

After our first week, my friends and I drove to our local shopping centre and spent the large sum of monetary donations on the best quality yet most affordable pants we could find - naturally, we landed on M&S. The looks on people’s faces as we purchased hundreds of pairs of pants is something I still find hilarious; always met with, “you do understand that underwear is non-refundable, right?” I would explain the charitable purpose, which turned out to be a fab way to spread the word and get retail stores on your side.

At first, I was quite nervous that I wouldn’t be able to find many places to send them; some charities only take monetary donations, and many refuges don’t have huge amounts of storage capacity. 

Oh, how wrong I was. 

“I feel so much better, having nothing is embarrassing at times and having to tell someone about having dirty or no underwear is degrading. Thank you for thinking about this and making me feel clean and so much better. It is so thoughtful and has made me feel human again.”

The longer I do this, the more I realise that the need is overwhelming, and the gap will take a very long time to be filled. I sent our first lot of underwear to the refuge that inspired our journey, and then got in touch with the women’s shelter local to me at university in the city of Durham. They were so grateful, immediately took me up on the offer, and even welcomed me to visit the shelter. During my visit, they spoke to me about the survivors they support and explained that people very rarely donate underwear. Oftentimes, they only have second hand clothing to provide, leaving many women without underwear. 

Although I was already aware of and understood this, still to this day every time I hear it, it continues to motivate me. The ladies seeking help from shelters and refuges often flee their past situations with nothing but their children and the clothes on their backs. Our mission is to stock the drawers of rooms in women's shelters with enough knickers that no woman even has to ask for a pair.  Although we are keen to break down the stigma around underwear poverty and the conversation surrounding it, asking for a pair of pants after experiencing some of life’s most traumatic circumstances is the last thing one wants to do. It can feel very humiliating, as you can imagine. 

“I can’t believe it. Thank you, thank you so much. I am over the moon. I have been wearing bikini bottoms and getting old ones off my niece as I don’t have any clean ones as my washer is broke”

With the growing success of Let’s Get Our Knickers in a Twist, I decided it was time for our first fundraising event. My friends and I racked our brains for the perfect idea, and then it came: a Pink Pants Party.

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Pink Pants Parties

During my first years of university, there was a huge rise in spiking, which, when combined with the assault that most women students are used to on nights out, meant going out at night at university was not always a pleasant experience. It became far too common for our evenings to be cut short because of yet another incident - whether it was harassment, physical assault, or verbal abuse. I was sick of it. 

Due to this growing concern throughout my female friendships and extended cohort, I thought, why don’t we host an all-women event, and let’s centre it around pants. The theme would be ‘Pink and Pants’, and instead of a ticket, attendees would need to bring a donation of brand-new underwear. No Knickers, No Entry.

And what a perfectly pink sight it was; 100 girls squashed into a uni kitchen, surrounded by pink knicker decorations and dancing to feminist favourites - a dream come true. We collected over 400 pairs of donated pants that evening, and our socials popped off. The outfits people came up with were the most memorable part for me. Some were just in pants, others had knickers and bras over their clothes, and some had every pink item they could find stuck to them. Everything was pink, and so perfectly fabulous. 

I gave a speech about the women we donate to - those involved in sex work or substance misuse, and those experiencing homelessness or domestic violence - and explained that our donations would be going just five minutes away to make a local impact. Many of the girls were really shocked to learn that these issues were happening so close to home.

“I have been wearing the same pair of boxer shorts for a month and this means that I don’t have to keep washing them everyday” 

From childhood, many of us are taught that the real tragedies are happening far, far away from us, on different continents. Over the last few years, I have realised that it’s happening everywhere, and it’s always closer than you think. Misogyny and its impacts are vast, and we must work together to take back control.

The feedback was so wonderful. Everyone shared how refreshing it was to have a girls-only celebration, while also knowing they were contributing to a greater cause. That’s when I realised that we weren’t just empowering the women we donate to, but it was just as empowering for the women who joined the party. And with that, our dual empowerment model was born. 

We counted up all the pants, wrote the total on my friend’s bottom, snapped some pictures and went to donate them locally. 

Post Pink Pants Party, there was a buzz. Awareness spread, and our following grew far and wide at a rapid rate. This was going to be our thing, our trend, our marketing strategy. It was time to get girls throwing Pink Pants Parties everywhere. And so they did. 

We went all out on socials, sharing pictures from the parties on Instagram, and encouraging girls at other universities to do the same. I created a template of how to throw a Pink Pants Party and contacted feminist societies, mutual friends, sororities - the lot. Slowly but surely, the Pink Pants Parties spread across the country (and then around the world). Wearing underwear over clothing became a trend for each party, and it was amazing to see the growth of something that started so small and naïve. 

This growth meant we could spread our impact further. For each event held, the knickers were donated locally. Research would be done on my end, sourcing refuge centres in the area and finding out whether they would accept our knickers, and the party organisers would either send the knicker donations in the post or drop them off in person to see the impact they were making. It became a beautiful cycle of woman empowerment.

It quickly became clear that I wanted to focus the organisation around a dual empowerment model - not only empowering the women we donate to but also uplifting those who want to help support the organisation through impactful fundraising efforts and community building. Our empowerment model fosters the creation of women-centered communities where volunteers and fundraisers can share their stories, discuss women’s issues, and celebrate their femininity in a safe and supportive environment. This approach ensures that the act of giving is as empowering for the donors as it is beneficial for the recipients, creating a sustainable cycle of support and solidarity among women.

While we love hosting our classic Pink Pants Parties, many of our supporters have taken to throwing their own interpretations or other fundraising events for the cause. Be an ambassador of change and host one too! From intimate community or friend gatherings to larger functions, school or university events, your initiative can significantly boost our efforts. We will provide you with all the necessary support and information you need to make your event a success.

We cherish the creativity and passion of our supporters who throw ‘pant-raising’ events. From boozy beading to supper clubs, walking or running clubs that (literally) go the extra mile, dinner parties, and Galentine’s gatherings that celebrate friendship and giving back - the ideas have been endless. The paint-and-sips, pub quizzes and the panel talks - they’re all perfect. And the bake sales too! 

Our goal is for these events to bring people together, fostering connection and collaboration, and creating communities of confidence. 

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Our Impact - Pants With Purpose

Knickers. The item we put on first in the morning and take off last at night. The item we wear to feel sexy and the item we wear to feel secure. The item we completely and utterly take for granted, and always will, until we are without it. I urge everyone reading this to have a think about what knickers mean to you and to put yourself in the shoes of someone who either has never had access to underwear, or has had that access stripped from them. 

Dignity is at the heart of what we do. It’s important to challenge the common misconception that those in need will simply accept whatever is given to them. Everyone deserves access to essentials that make them feel comfortable, confident, and valued - just as you would expect for yourself. 

“I am so pleased with the present of underwear - it's not what people ever consider and i'm so grateful for your help, living on the streets is tough and something as basic as underwear is overlooked so thanks for making me feel good again”

At Let’s Get Our Knickers in a Twist, our mission goes beyond simply providing underwear; it’s about supporting and uplifting women who find themselves in the most challenging of life’s circumstances. We aim to empower the beneficiaries of donated underwear, addressing their essential hygiene needs while also providing the comfort and security that underwear brings. 

Different types of underwear can be empowering to different people, and specific occasions often call for various styles. We aim to dismantle the myth that underwear donations have to be basic and boring. Instead, we emphasise that those in need retain their dignity and pride, which is reflected in the quality and variety of our donations. 

Many women will recognise a desire to have the option of various styles of underwear. All women, including those in need, deserve the luxury of choice when they’re deciding which knickers to wear that day. 

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Support and Comfort - From Underwear and Others

There are three things I have learnt since starting my organisation. 

First, it’s not always the people you expect who will be your biggest supporters. And yes, it can be disheartening at times when those you thought would show up for you - and the cause you’ve worked your arse off for (excuse the pun) - don’t. However, others you may not have expected will step out of the shadows and become your biggest cheerleaders. Ultimately, getting to know others who share your ambition and passion for meaningful causes close to your heart is a beautiful and empowering experience. 

Second, people want to help; they just don’t always know how. So, make it easy for them! Acknowledge reality- people are busy and often looking after number one, so make it easy for them to contribute to your cause and get involved. Make your events engaging, your ticket links clear, your donation pages simple, and explain to people again (and again) what you do and how they can help - run it home. 

Finally, on a more personal note, while it can take a toll emotionally to focus on those who face life’s most challenging circumstances, having your own passion project can do wonders for your mental health. Let’s Get Our Knickers in a Twist has looked after me just as much as I have her. It’s great to have something that allows you to switch off, that you love deeply and is making a difference. Whether you are at uni (trying to break free from the drinking, lecture, drinking, Big Tesco… cycle) or working a gruelling 9 to 5, having something that is truly yours and that you know is important in the scheme of things, is a wonderful and impactful way to spend your time. 

I hope this inspires anyone with an idea, but doesn’t really know how to go about it, to just start. If you feed a passion, the rest will follow. You never know what might happen, but the best thing you can do is just begin! Don’t get me wrong - I was terrified at first. Ironically, I worried what people would think (clearly, that fear has disappeared when it comes to knicker-related content). But if you are passionate about a cause, do something about it. Not enough people do, and it will always make a difference to someone, somewhere, whether you find out about it or not.

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www.letsgetourknickersinatwist.org

@letsgetourknickersinatwist

serena@letsgetourknickersinatwist.org

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