Valerie Hunter Gordon
Valerie Hunter Gordon (born Valerie Ziani de Ferranti) was a British inventor who created PADDI, a two-part disposable nappy system, and Nikini, an early sanitary towel. She was born on 7 December 1921 in Baslow, England, and died on 16 October 2016 in Beauly, Scotland.
After her third baby in 1947, Valerie wanted to stop washing heavy cloth nappies. PADDI consisted of a biodegradable disposable pad inside an adjustable, washable waterproof outer garment with press-studs. The garment initially used old military parachutes, later switching to PVC. Valerie made about 400 pads herself at home, selling them for five shillings each.
She secured a UK patent for the PADDI garment in 1949. In 1949 a contract with Robinson & Sons was arranged after a meeting between Valerie’s father and Sir Robert Robinson. Boots began selling PADDI nationwide in 1950, and a US patent followed in 1951 with other patents worldwide. PADDI was shown at exhibitions and gained rapid popularity; by 1952 about 750,000 packs were sold, and by 1960 sales reached six million.
PADDI remained successful until the rise of all-in-one nappies. Valerie later moved to Beauly with her husband, Patrick Hunter Gordon, and continued to develop PADDI and other products. She created Nikini, a sanitary towel system (named from Knicker and Bikini), which earned substantial royalties.
Valerie came from a family of inventors, including Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti. She attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Roehampton and married Major Patrick Hunter Gordon in 1940. She died in 2016 at age 94, survived by six children, 19 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 06:22 (CET).