Since our founding in 1987, Global Protection Corp. (GPC) has championed the intersection of art and social change, using innovative condom packaging to spark conversations and reshape perceptions around sexual health. We’re thrilled to share a collaboration with the Museum of Sex in Miami, where four decades of Global Protection Corp. products and technology are on display. We’re honored to share a little bit of our unique, pop-culture-inspired history and commitment to making sexual health approachable and engaging for everyone.
The Art and Advocacy Behind Global Protection Corp.
Our founder and CEO, Davin Wedel, launched Global Protection amid the AIDS crisis in the 80s with a mission to destigmatize condoms. “Although condoms prevented the spread of HIV, they were extremely taboo to talk about,” said Wedel. “I was determined to make condom use fun and stylish, to make it as socially acceptable as toothpaste and as second nature as wearing a seatbelt.”
Like many great initiatives, Davin started locally. In his Tufts University dorm, Davin created the Happy Jumbo Condom Matchbook, featuring Tuft's elephant mascot with the tagline “A Safe Jumbo Is a Happy Jumbo.” When he put something relatable around the condom, all of a sudden people couldn’t wait to get their hands on the product. This started conversations across the campus, reducing the taboo around safer sex conversations. Soon after in 1987, Global Protection Corp. was founded with its original line of promotional products, Custom Condoms®. The company made it possible for any organization – from colleges to movie premiers to lawyers’ offices – to promote safer sex. His vision quickly expanded, leading to hundreds of bold, witty designs that make condoms relatable, accessible, and far less taboo.
Global Protection Corp. brands are built on a history of creativity, innovative product development, and thinking outside the box. Learn more below about the Global Protection Corp. products still on display at the Museum of Sex Miami’s “Modern Sex: 100 Years of Design and Decency” exhibit, and more on our ONE Condoms Instagram and TikTok.
Groundbreaking at Gift Shops
Changing the culture around condoms meant meeting people where they were at. In the nineties, gift shops were the perfect space to reach everyday people. Davin was constantly thinking about creative and unique condom packaging to spark conversations about condoms, something Global Protection is known for to this day. This included fun items like Condom Lollypops, Condom Keychains, the Peter Meter, the Smarter Garter – and later packaging for musicians like Prince, KISS, 2 Live Crew, and U2.
Some of the earlier inventions that are featured at Museum of Sex Miami are described below:
Knight Light Condoms, ca. 1990s
Global Protection Corp. made headlines with the invention of the world’s first glow-in-the-dark condom—a product called "Knight Light" that would put the company on the map. Davin Wedel took a break from his studies at Tufts University to travel to Thailand to work directly with manufacturers to develop a unique production method: a triple-layer design with the outer two layers surrounding a glowing center. Knight Light Condoms were a sensation, sparking national attention from The Denver Post, The Chicago Tribune, and even a spotlight on The Arsenio Hall Show.
The Knight Light condom lives on, now known as ONE® Glowing Pleasures™. Glow--in-the dark condoms are available for our B2B customers in various product configurations, such as cases of 1,000 condoms and bowls of 100 condoms -- and our retail-ready 3-counts for distributors.
Smarter Garter, ca. 1990s
In the ‘90s, Global Protection Corp. introduced the "Smarter Garter," a step outside the box (even for us) that turned into a big hit! Each garter was made from locally sourced lace, ribbons, and bows and hand-sewn by brand friends. The Smarter Garter blended fashion and practicality, turning condom storage into a stylish, cheeky accessory.
Rubber Suckeez Flavored Condoms, ca. 1990s
Another example from the 90s was the “Rubber Suckeez Flavored Condoms,” which featured a tongue that said “For a good time pull here.” This wasn’t such a hit, but was another early attempt at condom packaging that started a conversation.
Making Waves on Stage
Music and sexual health have often shared a stage, amplifying messages of self-expression, safety, and community. In the ‘90s, novelty condoms had a unique cultural moment, selling in quirky gift shops nationwide and even joining bands on tour. Global Protection Corp. worked with iconic artists—like Prince, KISS, 2 Live Crew, and U2—translating their legendary influence into memorable sexual health products. Check out just a few examples below from the 90s.
And our love for music continues to this day! Fast forward to this fall: we just launched a new program called ONE® on Stage where we work with cool, local bands to distribute condoms at their concerts.
Purple Rain Coats Condoms, 1995
Nothing captures the spirit of the ‘90s quite like Prince’s iconic influence. Our "Purple Rain Coats" condoms, launched in 1995, paid homage to his unforgettable presence in pop culture. Each condom came in a purple shade, packaged to resemble a CD in a CD case—a fun, nostalgic detail that celebrated safer sex while delighting fans of the Purple One.
KISS Kondoms, ca. 1990s
Another memorable partnership was with KISS, whose custom condoms became a favorite in gift stores and a surprising addition on tour. With their signature logo and edgy designs, KISS Kondoms offered fans a playful way to connect with the band’s rebellious spirit while promoting safer sex in an unforgettable style.
U2 The PopMart Tour Condoms, 1997
In 1997, Global Protection Corp. partnered with U2 for their iconic PopMart Tour, aligning with the band’s album POP. The exclusive "POP" packaging played off the album’s bold aesthetic, creating a unique keepsake for fans.
Launch of ONE® Condoms
We were ecstatic to see one of the original ONE® round wrapper designs at the Museum of Sex! Built on the bedrock of innovation and cultural relevance, ONE® is our award-winning signature brand that reflects Davin’s deep industry expertise and sexual health advocacy. Launched in 2004, ONE® is a rebel brand meant to engage people unlike any other – and features the latest technologies in the industry.
With its revolutionary, trademark round wrappers featuring a variety of artwork, ONE® quickly emerged as a trailblazing brand. In 2013, the line extended into personal lubricants. In 2017, ONE® launched an extension of the brand called MyONE® Custom Fit® with 52 condom sizes – revolutionizing the way people think about condom fit. In 2022 ONE® became the first brand FDA-approved for anal use, and in 2024 launched ONE® Flex® as the world’s first condom enhanced with the wonder material graphene.
“I used to draw round wrapper condoms with the logo ONE in my notebook, dreaming when I could bring this brand to life,” said Davin Wedel. “ONE was about doing everything different, from the round wrappers to engagement programs and new technologies. During its launch ONE represented everything I had learned about the industry so far, and today the brand continues to bring innovative new products to market to move the industry forward.”
The essence of the brand is its cultural resonance, blending product innovation with relevant art, music and fashion influences in order to drive individual and community engagement. Everyone is encouraged to be a part of ONE®.
Custom Fit Pioneers
We started with the goal of normalizing condom use and making condoms accessible, but we didn’t stop there. Over the past four decades, we’ve learned that pleasureful protection is the key to sexual health education. We are constantly learning from our customers' experiences and doubling down on our product innovation. "How can we make safer sex feel better?" is our guiding question.
Peter Meter, 1993
The "Peter Meter" condom, released in 1993, added a playful twist to condom use with size categories printed along the length, from "teeny weeny" to "farm animal." This novelty item quickly became popular, and soon imitations popped up worldwide. Founder Davin Wedel recalls seeing knockoffs on a trip to Asia in the ’90s and thinking, “I must have made it if they’re copying it!”
At the time, the Peter Meter was purely a novelty product, stamped with a “non-toxic” label as FDA regulations hadn’t yet extended to condoms as medical devices.
Through customer surveys and conversations - and plenty of research studies - we determined that condom fit was a large factor in how people enjoy safer sex. We began a mission to solve common condom fit challenges, such as slippage, squeezing, erection loss, and discomfort. Committed to providing our customers with an inclusive size range, Global Protection worked with various stakeholders across the world to bring custom fit condoms to market. It was a challenge from a regulatory and manufacturing perspective, but an important one! Fast forward to 2017, Global Protection Corp. launched MyONE® Custom Fit® Condoms, introducing 52 unique sizes to provide a perfect fit—a significant evolution from the playful origins of the Peter Meter. Prior to the rebrand to MyONE® Custom Fit®, the product was originally known as TheyFit when it first launched in Europe.
As avid condom fit enthusiasts, we were also delighted to see this Sizemologist Kiosk at the Museum of Sex in Miami - we’d love to have one for our office!
Thank you to the staff at Museum of Sex for making the exhibit incredible! To learn more about Global’s history read here.