Kotex is an American brand of menstrual hygiene products that includes pads, tampons, and pantiliners. The brand was launched in 1920 by Kimberly-Clark to make use of leftover cellucotton (wood pulp fiber) from World War One bandages. An employee noted that the pads had a "cotton-like texture" which was abbreviated to "cot-tex" and then made the product name with alternate spelling. Kotex is owned and managed by Kimberly-Clark, a consumer products corporation active in more than 80 countries. In 2009, Kotex launched a premium sub-brand called Kotex Luxe in Singapore, and in 2011, it launched U by Kotex Tween, products aimed at girls aged 8–12 in the US. U by Kotex is a brand that offers a wide range of unique, colorful, and bold feminine hygiene products for all period needs. The brand is committed to ensuring women have access to period supplies so they can fully participate in daily life and is the founding sponsor of Alliance for Period Supplies, which provides period products to millions of women across the country every month.