The problem with women's underwear is that it's often designed to be only pretty, not practical. Dear Kate founder Julie Sygiel, a chemical engineer, knew she had the skills to create underwear that not only looked good, but also kept up with a woman's body, and periods in particular. So she invented the silky-soft Underlux fabric that made Dear Kate a cult favorite.

The patent-pending fabric wicks away sweat, repels stains, and resists leaks, making it the perfect armor against period leaks and mild incontinence. And though this may bring to mind images of bulky, unflattering material, an XO Jane writer said: "... they are silky soft and gorgeous. The material is really comfy, and even though the fabric is layered in the crotch area there’s no feeling of bulkiness at all."

That's not the only press Dear Kate has received. In fact, it has been covered extensively for using diverse real-people models in its lookbooks. And according to Elle magazine, it raised the money it needed to expand and start offering yoga pants in just one hour after creating a Kickstarter campaign.