Uniqlo AIRism Period Shorts vs Kiri: An Honest Hong Kong Comparison
If you have searched for Uniqlo's period underwear in Hong Kong lately, you have probably seen Google suggest 停產 — discontinued. Here is the straight answer, and then an honest comparison for anyone choosing between Uniqlo's AIRism Absorbent Sanitary Shorts and ours.
Is Uniqlo's period underwear discontinued in Hong Kong?
No. As of September 2026, UNIQLO Hong Kong & Macau still lists AIRism Absorbent Sanitary Shorts in its femcare range, and the product is also sold in other markets including Singapore, the US and Europe.
The 停產 question keeps coming up for a simple reason: individual colours, sizes and cuts rotate out between seasons, and some markets have dropped particular versions. If a pair you bought two years ago has disappeared, it is far more likely that one SKU was retired than the whole line. Check Uniqlo's own femcare page for what is actually in stock today.
We would rather tell you that plainly than let a competitor's blog post leave you with the wrong impression.
The comparison, in one table
| Uniqlo AIRism Absorbent Sanitary Shorts | Kiri | |
|---|---|---|
| Stated absorbency | Approximately 30–40 ml | Daywear 50 ml; Nightwear 75 ml |
| In tampon terms | Roughly 3–4.5 regular tampons | 5.5 (day) / 8.5 (night) regular tampons |
| Construction | Three-layer, with a double crotch panel that can also hold a pad | Four-layer leak-proof construction |
| Sizes | Check current range in store | XS–L (day), XS–XL (night) |
| Where to buy | Physical stores across Hong Kong, plus online | Online, delivered across Hong Kong |
| Price | Lower — see Uniqlo for current pricing | From HK$288 (day), HK$328 (night) |
Absorbency figures are each brand's own stated capacity. Testing methods are not standardised across the industry, so treat these as a guide to relative capacity rather than a lab result.
Absorbency is the real difference
This is where the two products genuinely diverge, and it is worth being specific rather than vague.
Uniqlo's shorts are designed around roughly 30–40 ml. That is a sensible capacity for light and moderate days, or as backup alongside a tampon or cup. Our Daywear pair holds 50 ml, and our Nightwear pair holds 75 ml with padding that runs gusset to waistband, front and back, specifically for lying down.
If your flow is light to moderate and you mostly want a pad replacement, that extra capacity may be more than you need. If you have heavy days, or you are trying to sleep eight hours without setting an alarm to change a tampon, it is the whole point.
Where Uniqlo genuinely wins
Two things, and we are not going to pretend otherwise.
You can try it on. Hong Kong shoppers search 門市 — physical store — constantly when buying underwear, and for good reason. Uniqlo has shops across the city. We are online only, which means you are sizing from a chart rather than a fitting room.
It costs less. Uniqlo's price point is lower than ours. If budget is the deciding factor, that is a real answer and we would rather you buy a pair you can afford than none at all.
Where we think we win
Capacity on heavy and overnight days, a fourth barrier layer, sizing up to XL in the Nightwear cut, and a high-waist rise with full back coverage designed for side sleepers. We are also a Hong Kong brand designing for Hong Kong weather and Hong Kong sizing, rather than adapting a Japanese range.
Sizing: do not size up
The most common mistake with any period underwear is buying it loose. Absorbent layers only work when the gusset sits flush against you; a gap is where leaks happen. If you are between sizes, size down, not up. Our Nightwear also fits tighter than our Daywear, so your size may differ between the two styles — check both charts rather than assuming.
Washing: the rule that decides how long they last
Rinse under cold running water until the water runs clear, then cold machine wash and line dry.
What actually ruins period underwear is heat and softener. Hot water sets blood into the fibres. Fabric softener coats the absorbent core and waterproofs it in exactly the wrong direction, so the pair that worked last month suddenly leaks. No bleach, no soaking, no tumble dryer, no iron. Cared for properly, a pair lasts years.
In a humid Hong Kong flat, dry them somewhere with air movement rather than a closed bathroom.
What about PFAS?
A fair number of people search this, usually after reading coverage of PFAS testing in period products overseas. It is a reasonable thing to ask about any brand, ours included.
We are not going to make claims about another company's materials, and you should be sceptical of any brand that does. Ask each brand directly for their own testing documentation and material disclosures, and judge the answer you get. A brand that cannot produce one has told you something.
So which should you buy?
If you want something cheap to try, you want to hold it before buying, and your flow is light to moderate — buy the Uniqlo pair. That is a sensible first purchase and there is no shame in us saying so.
If you have heavy days, you want to sleep through the night, you need a size above L, or you have already tried a lower-capacity pair and had it leak — that is the gap we built for.
Many people end up owning both: a cheaper pair for light days and a higher-capacity pair for the two days that actually matter.
Browse Kiri period underwear, or read our guide to choosing period underwear if you are still working out what capacity you need.
