The All-Natural PMS Subscription Box Femly Is Helping Women Find Joy In Their Periods
Moment of truth: I had never heard of Femly Box, and haven't had any prior knowledge that monthly subscription boxes for a woman's time of the month was a thing.
I have had a mostly love relationship with my period for much of my life. Unlike most women who had to succumb to the pain of sometimes debilitating menstrual cramps and mood swings – I felt I was off on my own private hormonal island, where none of the negative side effects of periods could touch me. Well, aside from the occasional jawline breakout or two. That was of course until I hit adulthood.
I don't have full blown cramps, but I definitely see why most women teeter onto the hate side of the relationship spectrum when it comes to their periods. The overall feeling of uncleanliness, fatigue, mood swings, and some slight cramps have made their appearance and have shown me that they are here to stay. The swift turn made me almost turn my back on the fond way I used to view my periods, that was until I realized the power in acceptance. I could look at this repeating occurrence as a nuisance, or I could grow to love it and view it as this empowering act.
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Femly Box is all about helping women tap into that feeling. You are woman, you roar. So why not feel good or be in awe of the extraordinary things your body is capable of? Including bleeding for 3-7 days as your body sheds its uterine lining. Do you hear that? That's magical af. More importantly, with the help of Femly Box, you can have the tools you need to honor your cycle in a way that promotes a healthy and organic alternative to self-care while on your period. I was thrilled to receive my box and open it to find all-natural organic sweet treats, tampons, and pads, as well face masks among the items that screamed the feel good/look good mantra.
The Femly Box is the brainchild of 27-year-old Arion Long who graduated with a degree in Marketing & Consumer Science – a degree that she does not credit her success to that credential. "My grandma is to blame for that, she adopted myself and six siblings all while touring the world with her singing group. She's always pushed us to be whoever we want, and shut sh*t down (exactly in those words)," she says. Above all else, Long believes her life purpose is serving others.
The entrepreneur and self-care advocate answered a few questions for xoNecole exclusively in regards to her business, its purpose, and why she's all about women embracing and having “awesome" periods in an all-natural way with Femly Box.
What inspired you to start your Femly Box business?
I suffered from irregular cycles and cramping for over a year before finding out that I suffered from ovarian cysts and a cervical tumor. It wasn't until then that I researched the ingredients in products found in stores and was shocked to find that everything I suffered from was linked with products that myself, and women everywhere use on a monthly basis! The dangers of chemicals and the fact that none of my local stores carried healthier options was the push to launch our period service-I specifically went for a super affordable price!
As a woman, how do you feel about periods? How do you want other women to feel about their periods?
I think periods are the most beautiful pain-in-the-butt reminder that we're strong. It's almost like a monthly text saying "Heyyyy, you're baby free"...with a little bit of detox since your body is renewing itself and purging toxins. I want other women to embrace it. Your time of the month is a week of renewal and we deliver a comfy "monthly gift" to help you slay your period! We are all about inclusivity and offer gender neutral options for our LGBQT family since periods can be especially triggering!
Why is it so important to subscribe to this service?
Our period products are 100% chemical free and 100% cotton while other products have known links to heavy bleeding, fibroids, cramps and even cancer!
What are some things that we can find in our Femly Box?
Femly delivers a custom mix of period products, snacks, body care, cramp relief and even lifestyle products! Thus far we've included body scrubs, face masks, makeup brushes...#unameit. Your period SHOULD be awesome!
Femly
What was the process of starting this business? What was it like in its earlier days? How has it evolved since then?
Starting Femly was the most demand and rewarding thing I've ever done. In the beginning, it was a struggle because I was recovering from surgery to address my tumor but I surrounded myself with great people who believed in me. We're still in our "early stage" despite gaining funding, national press etc...we shipped our first box September 2016, though my work ethic is relentless. Right now, we're expected to reach over 121,000 in the next few years!
What makes your box different from other simliar models on the market?
We're different because we are the only black-owned feminine care service. We're also the only service that exclusively uses 100% cotton products and caters to your period week by including a bunch of surprises.
What's next for Femly Box?
Femly Box will continue to grow and become a National/International game-changer and we have plans for opening up shop in three cities on the East Coast. I will continue to empower, advocate and build a platform that serves others.
Find out more information and sign up for your monthly Femly Box subscription here.
Keep up-to-date with Femly @femlybox. Find Arion @arionexclusive.
Featured image by Getty Images
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ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
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Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy