Nothing says “innovation” like converting adult incontinence products into high-fashion dresses. Seriously.

In partnership with hygiene products company SCA, 13 students from Drexel’s Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design were given 24 hours over a three week period to take TENA (an adult diaper brand) materials and turn them into something you might see your favorite celeb sporting on the red carpet.

The students, divided into four teams, presented their finalized products at Drexel’s URBN Center on Wednesday to three judges: Amy Bellcourt (SCA’s VP of Communications), Diane Engler (SCA’s Director of Communications for North America) and Eric Cohen (Senior Product Manager for TENA).

Initially, one winner was to be selected to win $500 and the opportunity to have their designs displayed in Newport, R.I., at the North American stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race this May.

But that all changed after the judges laid their eyes on the insanely intricate designs displayed by all four teams.

Instead, two teams were selected as winners, banking $1,000 each and the Volvo Ocean Race appearance. The other two teams were given prizes of $250 each.

“I was overly impressed,” said TENA’s Cohen. “I wasn’t sure what I would see.”

Here’s what you need to know.

Team 1 (Runner-up, $250)

This team used material used for sensitive adult diaper products and plastic wrap for pads. “Just because you have incontinence doesn’t mean you’re not romantic and still a woman,” the team said.

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Team 2 (Runner-up, $250)


This team used diaper velcro in the back of the dress instead of the usual zipper. And just look at that undergarment neckstrap.

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Team 3 (Winner, $1,000)

This team designed their dress (with a diaper underneath) with strong women like Beyoncé, Gwen Stefani and Princess Di in mind.

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Team 4 (Winner, $1,000)

This particularly knotty dress was inspired by sailing and “unity in the face of incontinence.”

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