An independent clothing brand has launched the ‘Period Positive’ clothing collection to kick-start conversations on commonly considered taboo topics, including vulva diversity and period poverty.
Lucy & Yak, a Yorkshire-based company founded in 2017 by Lucy Greenwood and Chris Renwick, is best known for its range of dungarees, which often feature bold and colorful prints.
The trousers and dungarees are on sale now, and cost £36 and £62 respectively.
In 2020, it launched trousers and dungarees covered in vulva print. Now it has expanded its vibrant portfolio with these new designs, which it describes as genderless.
Posting about the new launch on social media, the brand said that it wants to ‘do its bit to normalize the conversation and remove the stigma around yoni and periods’.
Yorkshire-based independent fashion brand Lucy & Yak has launched a limited edition clothing range designed to foster conversation on taboo topics, including menstruation and vulva. These dungarees have a fruity vulva print
The second item in the brand’s period positive category are these trousers, which boast prints featuring menstrual items including tampons, cups, and bloody underwear.
This print, which includes bloody tampons among other period-related items, was designed by artist Sam Davids, whose work is included in the permanent collection of The Vagina Museum.
It added: ‘Half of the world’s population has one – so let’s have a bloody conversation about it!’
Along with normalizing periods, it also seeks to draw attention to period poverty, which reflects a lack of access to menstrual products.
A 2017 study on girls in the UK found that one in 10 were unable to purchase these products, and a similar number were forced to use improved sanitary wear.
As well as leading to potential health issues, period poverty can also cause emotional and mental challenges.
It is believed that the stigma around menstruation has meant that conversations about period poverty, as well as research on the subject, have been limited.
The trousers, described by the brand as genderless, feature a red print on a pink background designed by artist Sam Davids.
Fruit: The dungaree print features a variety of fruits, which the brand says represent the vulva variety
Lucy & Yak says it wants to ‘challenge the stigma surrounding bleeding’ with its new trousers, which were Created in collaboration with multimedia artist Sam Dawood.
Sam’s work has been included in the permanent collection of The Vagina Museum, as well as in The British Library’s exhibition The Fight for Women’s Rights.
Speaking about the red and pink print, which includes bloody tampons, menstrual cups and underwear, the artist said: ‘My aim is to support others in not being ashamed of nudity; To share the wonderful human form through art without censorship, shame or sexuality.’
The second piece in the collection, the dungarees – or ‘vulvaris’ – features a fruity vulva print created by LA-based artist Kelly Malka.
According to Lucy & Yak’s website, Kelly’s work is ‘both lively and relevant, raising awareness of important topics in her distinctly colorful style, often focusing on issues and conversations of the body and its form’.
Speaking about the range, Lucy Greenwood, co-founder of Lucy & Yak, said: ‘We’re also looking to launch our second Vulvari edit, in 2022, to raise awareness of topics that may still be considered taboo. are very excited for.
‘I remember the first time I had my period and how sad I felt.’
She said that period ‘always comes when you’re not ready’.
She said: ‘I’m not even sure anyone warned me that this would happen, so you can imagine my surprise and bewilderment.
‘I’m all for a world where no one needs to feel ashamed or embarrassed about something as simple as bleeding.’
As well as launching the range, Lucy and Yak will donate to organizations working to end period poverty, including UK-based social enterprise Hey Girls.