Scarlet Rae

Scarlet partnered with two Victorian design firms - Xentronics and Trike - to bring rae to life through an 18-month, design-led collaboration grounded in empathy and engineering excellence.

The process began with extensive research. Interviews, observation, and user feedback sessions were held to understand the lived experiences of people with menstrual and pelvic pain. Tear-downs and analysis of existing solutions was done to create baselines on cost, performance, heat, and user satisfaction. Insights highlighted the need for a solution that was not only functional and safe, but also dignified, beautiful, and easy to integrate into daily life.

Over twelve iterations, the team explored and tested different forms, materials, and technologies - from heating elements to batteries, ergonomics, shell materials, and user interfaces. Early prototypes focused on achieving consistent, controlled heat in a flexible form that conformed to diverse body shapes.

User testing was central at every stage, refining details like the soft silicone shell, calming LED indicators, and tactile controls to ensure intuitive, accessible operation. Engineering milestones included the development of a custom flexible heating element, triple-layer battery protection for safety, and integration of USB-C charging for convenience and reduced e-waste.

Form and function were harmonised through careful material choices, achieving a soft-touch, medical-grade silicone shell that contours discreetly under clothing while also protecting the sensitive internal electronics.

The final product exceeded the brief by delivering a premium, sustainable, and empowering solution that is as emotionally resonant as it is technically robust - redefining period care with a world-first design conceived, tested, and realised entirely in Victoria. The consistent 5 star reviews of the product are a testament to this.

rae by Scarlet exemplifies design excellence through its seamless integration of form, function, and empathy, redefining period care as a premium, dignified, and user-centred experience.

Functionally, rae delivers consistent, regulated warmth to support comfort during menstruation, eliminating the need for cords, straps, adhesives, or single-use patches. The ergonomic, wireless design contours to the body and moves with the user, offering over five hours of cordless use. Its soft-touch silicone shell and discreet profile allow it to be easily worn under clothing, empowering users to maintain comfort, confidence, and autonomy throughout their day.

Accessibility and inclusivity were core to the design, informed by extensive user testing across various body types and needs. The intuitive interface, featuring tactile controls and calming LED indicators, supports effortless use at home, work, or on the go.

Aesthetically, rae opts for calming, soft-touch materials and a refined finish. It feels less like a gadget and more like a personal wellness companion.

Safety and quality are deeply embedded in the design. rae is constructed from body-safe, food-grade materials and rigorously engineered with features like thermal regulation, overheat protection, and triple-layer battery safeguards. It complies with international safety standards and has undergone durability testing for long-term performance. An IP rating protects against spills, sweat, and bodily fluids, ensuring easy cleaning and product longevity.

Sustainability is at the products core: from reusable, long-life design and USB-C charging to low-impact packaging and end-of-life recycling programs, rae provides a meaningful alternative to disposable heat solutions.

By centring emotional connection, environmental responsibility, and user experience, rae sets a new benchmark in Victoria’s design culture, proving that thoughtful, inclusive, and technically excellent design can transform overlooked categories and inspire innovation locally and globally.

rae by Scarlet reimagines period comfort through a world-first fusion of empathetic design, engineering precision, and cultural awareness, transforming a historically neglected category into one defined by dignity, innovation, and care.

Instead of iterating on outdated tools like hot water bottles, wheat bags, or disposable patches, rae offers a bold new approach: leveraging modern electronics, battery technology, and human-centred design to create a sleek, sustainable solution for everyday life.

Innovation in rae is evident in both form and function.

Form: The product’s shape was meticulously crafted to fit various body types, front and back, ensuring comfort and usability for as many people as possible. This was achieved not by guesswork, but through an iterative, hands-on process: 3D printing, mature prototyping, hand-cutting silicone, and extensive user testing to refine contours, surface feel, and flexibility. The result is a design that’s as inclusive as it is intuitive.

Function: While heating technology is not new, rae’s innovation lies in achieving a rare trifecta - sleekness, safety, and affordability - without compromise. Most products can only manage two of these goals. By utilising custom flexible PCB heater technology, premium-grade lithium batteries, and thoughtful internal engineering (including the placement of sensors, safety fuses, cable routing and strain relief), rae delivers reliable warmth in a safe, ultra-thin, and wearable form.

The final product is not only novel but also scalable, sustainable, and emotionally resonant. It proves that meaningful design doesn’t just solve problems; it transforms lived experiences.

rae is a testament to the power of Victorian design thinking. It challenges convention, listens deeply to users, and demonstrates that when innovation is rooted in care, even the most overlooked categories can be redefined, locally and globally.

rae by Scarlet creates impact at the intersection of wellbeing, sustainability, commerce, and cultural progress, proudly led and designed within Victoria’s vibrant creative community.

For users, rae supports greater comfort, mobility, and confidence for those navigating menstrual and pelvic discomfort. Feedback reflects a shift from stigma and limitation to autonomy and ease, enabling fuller participation in work, study, and daily life. The product helps reframe period care as a modern, valid part of wellness, no longer reliant on outdated tools or compromised solutions.

Socially, rae challenges cultural taboos by treating menstrual care with the same design quality and dignity long afforded to other wellness technologies. Its presence in the market helps normalise open conversation around periods, encouraging visibility and respect for experiences that have too often been minimised or dismissed.

Around the product, Scarlet has fostered a supportive community where users share stories, offer advice, recommend friends to use the product, and feel connected. This growing network helps turn individual experiences into a collective movement, amplifying the cultural shift toward openness and solidarity.

Commercially, rae has helped position Scarlet as a leader in premium femtech. Designed and developed in Victoria, the product has sparked economic activity, received consistently glowing reviews, and expanded into international markets, placing Victorian design excellence on the global stage.

Environmentally, rae replaces disposable heat patches and unsustainable legacy options with a durable, rechargeable, and maintainable alternative. Features like USB-C charging, low-impact packaging, a 5-year product life, and a planned end-of-life recycling program reflect a strong commitment to circular design principles and waste reduction.

Ultimately, rae proves that when empathy meets exceptional design, even the most overlooked challenges can become celebrated innovations, improving lives, elevating conversations, and amplifying Victoria’s global reputation for design that cares.

rae by Scarlet was designed from the outset with sustainability and circular design principles embedded at every stage.

The products mission is to offer a thoughtful, long-term alternative to disposable, unsustainable, high-waste menstrual heat therapies and inferior heater products designed and manufactured as fast-moving consumer goods.

Conventional solutions, such as single-use heat patches, create significant waste, relying on non-recyclable materials and generating ongoing environmental impact with each cycle.

rae disrupts this model by providing a durable, rechargeable product that users can rely on for up to 5 years of function.

Material selection prioritised safety, longevity, and recyclability. The food-grade silicone shell is robust and designed to withstand repeated use, while internal components were engineered for durability and ease of disassembly at end-of-life.

This disassembly simplifies into four pieces: the silicone shell, the flex PCB heater, the controller PCB, and the battery. Each can be easily handled and recycled via appropriate silicone and e-waste vendors managed by Scarlet through their end-of-life return program.

Energy efficiency and waste reduction are addressed through the integration of USB-C charging, which leverages existing global standards to minimise proprietary chargers, cables, and increased e-waste beyond what is necessary.

The product ships in minimal, low-impact, recyclable, and plastic-free packaging.

By addressing sustainability from the design phase through end-of-life considerations, rae demonstrates how circular economy principles can be successfully applied to consumer health products, reducing environmental impact while maintaining quality, safety, and user experience.

rae embodies a more responsible approach to product design that challenges throwaway culture and showcases how Victorian design leadership can contribute meaningfully to personal wellbeing and planetary health.