Marks & Spencer has long been a destination for British women to buy knickers – and, this month, it is an option for even more of them. The retailer is the first high street store to sell knickers designed to be worn with a stoma bag.
Available from this weekend from selected stores and online, the knickers use pockets on the inside to accommodate a stoma or multiple stomas to help protect against leaks, while the high-waisted fit and wide waistband give support to the wearer. Priced at £18 for a three-pack, they are significantly cheaper than those available from specialist stores, which are typically about £14 a pair.
They are, however, not just practical. Like other knickers available from the retailer, these designs have different cuts – high-waist Brazilian and full brief – and come in a range of colours with lace panels. They also can be bought with matching bras – something that has not been easily available for women living with stomas until now.
The idea was first mooted by the M&S employee Jiggy Sohi, from her own experience of living with a stoma. “For years I’ve known there is a real gap in the market and last year I built up the confidence to do something about it,” she said.
The knickers have been tried and tested by Sohi and more than 20 women during the development process. M&S also worked with Colostomy UK to gain insight from experts. Soozie Jenkinson, the M&S head of lingerie design, said the biggest challenge was combining comfort and style. “Working with a group of women who are living with stoma bags to design these particular knickers really brought home to us the impact of how life-changing great underwear can be,” she said.