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Dress made of Instead menstrual cups and fabric (1990s, U.S.A.) used in publicity
by the cup's maker, Ultrafem
Part of the fun of having created the museum is receiving unexpected
contributions.
In 1998, after the first Instead company (Ultrafem) failed, former officials
of the company sent me a letter that read in part:
Enclosed please find the INSTEAD SoftCup dress
[below] that
was used to generate excitement and PR [public relations] during the INSTEAD
launch. We hope that you will proudly display the SoftCup dress as a meaningful
part of the history of menstruation and as an alternative to traditional
pads and tampons.
Tonya G. Hinch, Office of the CEO, Sr. VP, Marketing
& Sales
Dori Reap, Office of the CEO, Sr. VP & CFO
Another staff member told me that Audrey Contente,
the inventor of the cup, made and wore the dress on many occasions. A laboratory
at my alma mater, Johns Hopkins, developed Instead, members of which visited the museum when MUM was in my house.
One member donated her homemade Halloween costume that the interviewer
for Comedy Central's Daily Show wanted to wear.
I thank Tonya G. Hinch, Office of the CEO,
Sr. VP, Marketing & Sales; and Dori Reap, Office of the CEO, Sr. VP
& CFO, of the former Ultrafem company for donating this dress!
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Below: The dress is heavy,
about 9 pounds (about 4.1 kilos).
The underskirt, which supports and expands
the dress, is
missing in the photo and can be seen here.
All photos copyright 2008 Harry Finley
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Below: Back
of dress with its long zipper.
I wish I could say the palm betrays my Tahitian
location
but it came from a Safeway supermarket when the museum
was open near Washington, D.C.
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NEXT: details, underskirt || MORE
menstrual cups
Pictures of the former physical museum (where
I took these dress photos).
Norwegian museum exhibit
Canadian costume made from menstrual pads
Menstrual poison (menotoxin)
Disposal bags for menstrual napkins from around
the world
German menstrual pad brand featuring a prostitute.
What causes menstrual odor?
Suspenders to hold pads
Copyright 2008 Harry Finley
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