The present invention relates to a disposable sanitary article, notably a diaper, formed from a composite fabric having a fluid impervious outer layer, an intermediate absorbent layer and an inner next-to-the-skin layer, characterised in that an axially elongated slit is formed in a first sheet in the next-to-the-skin layer of the fabric, preferably extending over the crotch area of the diaper, and in that the opposed axial lips of the slit are caused to adopt an inwardly directed and upstanding configuration, for example by elastication along the edges of the lips, and thereby provide a pair of opposed axial barrier cuff walls.
The invention also provides a method for making such an article.