LGOKIAT X DUZZ Boat Party

Let’s Get Our Knickers in a Twist (LGOKIAT) is a non-profit organisation founded by Serena Chamberlain in 2022 as a Community Interest Company, while she was still attending Durham University.

It is an inspiring charity focusing on the issue of period poverty and particularly ‘pant poverty’, a term coined by the charity to describe the lack of access to clean underwear that many women experience. Let’s Get Our Knickers in a Twist has been growing by leaps and bounds over the past couple of years, with Serena recently giving an interview for BBC Sounds with Naga Munchetty. However, it has retained a sense of fun and play with its fundraising methods, including their notorious ‘Pink Pant Parties’ in which attendees wear pink underwear over their clothes and are required to bring a donation of brand-new underwear to be let in. This allows anyone to get involved and can be organised by anyone with a charitable instinct (and friends who aren’t afraid to be a bit unconventional for a good cause)!

On the 11th October, DUZZ magazine had the pleasure of hosting a charity boat party with LGOKIAT on the Prince Bishop River Cruiser, which was a raging success!

Pre-party interview with Kate Kenny

DUZZ had three main questions to ask LGOKIAT before the party happened. Here’s what Kate Kenny (on behalf of Serena Chamberlain) had to say about the event to DUZZ writer Anna Hebb:

What are you most looking forward to about the collab with DUZZ?

We're super excited for this collab with DUZZ! Not only is it an opportunity for us to expand our audience across Durham, raising more awareness, but it also raises more awareness of our cause. It's so lovely to have a great group of peers keen to contribute their time and attention to the cause, so we are sure to have a fabulous time working together. Hopefully, through our Boat Party and the piece written by DUZZ, we can continue to draw in new interest and create a buzz for the issue of period and underwear poverty.

What should people expect from the boat party?

The Boat Party is our first LGOKIAT event of the academic year in Durham, so it is sure to be fresh and exciting! We're going to have complimentary welcome shots, music and loads of fun. It's also a fun opportunity to get dressed up and sail around the river with your friends! If that is not convincing enough, the charitable aspect definitely should be. All proceeds go towards supporting women in poverty who cannot afford underwear and period products. This is an incredibly important cause, so we are keen to raise as much awareness as possible.

What is your favourite piece of pink clothing?

My favourite pink item of clothing for sure has to be the LGOKIAT pink hoodie! These are sold on our website in 3 colour waves and are so cosy for winter, especially in the cold north. The colour is cute and proceeds go towards the charity, what could be more perfect!

Interview with Hannah Hastings

As a representative of DUZZ magazine, I had the fantastic opportunity of attending the boat party, and can attest to it being a great success for drawing in interest for LGOKIAT and DUZZ, while also being a lot of fun! During the party, I had the pleasure of interviewing Hannah Hastings, Events Ambassador for Let’s Get Our Knickers in a Twist and organiser of the boat party. She gave me more information about the beginnings of the non-profit and its aims for the future. Here’s what she had to say:

How did the charity come about, and how did you get involved?

Serena Chamberlain started the charity towards the end of her second year at Durham University. She used to volunteer for women’s refuge centres and spotted a gap in what was being donated (new underwear), a basic need that is often overlooked, and yet is a complete necessity for hygiene and well-being. Serena aimed to set up a non-profit that provides underwear to those in need, but also to raise awareness about this critical yet often ignored issue. I got involved by one of my friends attending a Pink Pants Party! I saw the fun photos of everyone from the party in their knickers, asked about it and went to the Instagram page. I thought it looked so empowering and wanted to get involved, and so I pressed the link, signed up, and here I am!

Why do you think it's important to focus on period poverty, and specifically pant poverty, rather than any other issue?

Let’s Get Our Knickers in a Twist focuses on a dual empowerment module, both empowering the women we are donating to and the women who are donating. Serena has built an amazing brand around period and pant poverty, so while all problems are worthy of being spotlighted, Serena has found a particular niche, and it's amazing to see other girls feeling empowered!

 Speaking on the issue in general, do you have an opinion on why the English Government is currently failing to effectively tackle period poverty/ pant poverty as a problem?

I think it’s quite easy to push aside female-only problems; this can be seen in the health gap, the pay gap and many other issues that women face. It unfortunately seems to be one of those things… pants, especially, are difficult because many places cannot accept them as donations, as they cannot ensure that they are clean. Affordable clothing is often pushed to one side by the government, as it is considered to be charity work and not necessarily an issue that the government needs to directly tackle. The lack of access to clean pants is sad and unhygienic, and it should be taken more seriously as an issue.

Do you have a message for anyone looking to get involved in the charity, and what are the first steps?

Have a look at our Instagram page! Get involved in our social media: like, comment repost! There is a link in the Instagram bio to apply to be an ambassador. They are always looking for different kinds of ambassadors: Events, Social Media, Graphic Design, Outreach and more! If there is anything you have a skill base for, go for it! There’s something for everyone.

What is the rough goal for the charity over the next year?

I think it’s all about expansion! Serena has done some amazing work recently, including a podcast with Naga Munchetty - big things are on the horizon for LGOKIAT! Serena is being more specific with the goals for each specific ambassador recently, for example, we have a community going into schools and getting younger girls involved. Serena is going abroad to spread awareness of the charity and help with the issue of pant poverty in other countries. The next step is worldwide expansion!

What is your favourite piece of pink clothing you own?

I have a fabulous pink thong that I bought specially for my Pink Pants Party. I think most of the people coming to this party must have gone to Primark to look for this pink thong because all of my friends showed up in the same one! I dangled mine off my disco ball and hung some more knickers on a washing line across the room, so that has to be my favourite!

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. All opinions expressed are Alaina's and Hannah’s alone.

Closing Thoughts

Overall, the party was a lot of fun, bringing together a range of people, whether they were interested in Let’s Get Our Knickers in a Twist and were passionate about helping to fix the issue of pant poverty, or they were fashionistas looking for an opportunity to get dressed up and party the night away! It has definitely made me enthusiastic to go to any future events hosted by DUZZ or LGOKIAT! Interviewing Hannah has given me a much greater understanding of LGOKIAT and what it stands for. Raising awareness and funding projects to help the issue of pant poverty is such a worthy and important cause, one that should convince everyone to find some pink underwear and throw their own party!

By Alaina Jennings