Birthday design brief from Thundepants

SNUG: The poster for the Thunderpants 20th anniversary event.PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Martinborough's Thunderpants turns 20 this year and to celebrate they are offering people the rare opportunity to get creative by designing and printing their own underpants.

The business that makes underwear from 100 per cent organic cotton will also have an exhibition looking back through the archives of the "iconic" pants.

The event is taking place in the creative space behind Thrive, on Kitchener St, from July 4-31.

"We wanted to celebrate our birthday by doing something really fun and creative for both adults and kids," says Thunderpants director Josie Bidwill.

"Let's be honest, how often do you get the chance to print your very own design onto a pair of undies?"

During the school holidays and for "most of July" you will be able to print your own pants from 11am-3pm, from Wednesday to Saturday.

The exhibition features Thunderpants prints and other items from the 20 years they have been in the business.

Thunderpants was started by Miss Bidwill and fellow design student Victoria McKenzie who were frustrated by "irritating and uncomfortable" underpants.

They set about to create the "ultimate undie" that didn't "go up your bum".

Twenty years on and the small Thunderpants business has grown into a company employing 12 staff and now also makes a range of clothing and swimwear.

"The last 20 years have been an enormous amount of fun and we're looking forward to the next twenty," said Miss Bidwill.