All Hail Sir Richard

Get the hard facts about the history of the condom during National Condom Month.

February may be recognized most often for Valentine’s Day, but did you know it’s also National Condom Month? Coincidence or not, it’s certainly timely that this classic holiday of love shares the month with a celebration of safe sex. One brand you may not have heard lots about is Sir Richard’s (you can tell which one it is by the eye-catching signature plaid packaging design on both their boxes and their wrappers). And buying them also helps Sir Richard’s do great things: for every condom purchased, they donate one to a country in need. Realizing that less than 17 percent of contraceptive needs in developing countries are met by public donors, Sir Richard’s aims to help bridge that gap and appeals to individuals who seek to align their purchases with the change they’d like to see in the world: “Doing good never felt better.”

Of course, everything is best understood in perspective, and to see how progressive Sir Richard’s really is, we take a brief look back at the condom’s (shockingly long!) history:

• 1000 BC: Condoms are found in Egypt
• 100-200 AD: Condoms spotted in European cave paintings
• 1500s: Italian anatomist Gabriel Fallopius performs successful tests proving linen condoms can prevent STDs
• 1700s: An enterprising individual creates condoms made from animal intestines
• 1800s: Natural rubber condoms begin mass production
• 1930s:  Liquid latex replaced crepe rubber as the “material of choice” for condom manufacture. Condom sales boom.
• 1990s: Colored and flavored condoms are introduced
• 2011: Condoms go high design—as well as vegan-friendly and  philanthropic, when Sir Richard’s introduces BOGO: Buy one, Give one to  combat the serious global condom crisis

A few more tidbits: Sir Richard’s condoms are 100 percent natural latex, vegan-friendly and with lubricant free of glycerin, spermicide and parabens. Choose from a bunch of styles including Pleasure Dots, Ultra Thin, Classic Ribbed and Extra Large, Sir Richard’s condoms ($12.99-$13.99/12-pack) can be found at Whole Foods stores and online at sirrichards.com.