Cover Suci Cup, Bobble and more brands that are breaking the stigmas and taboos around period care in Malaysia (Photos: Courtesy of Bobble and Bloody Good Shop)
Suci Cup, Bobble and more brands that are breaking the stigmas and taboos around period care in Malaysia (Photos: Courtesy of Bobble and Bloody Good Shop)
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Suci Cup, Bobble and more Malaysian brands that are breaking the stigmas and taboos around period care
Discussions of period poverty and the inaccessibility of period products take the spotlight each time lawmakers pass legislation that addresses barriers to women’s health–such as when Scotland became the first country in the world to make period products free for all and available at community centres, pharmacies, youth clubs and more public spaces across the country. Malaysia followed suit in 2022 when the nation’s first female health minister, Dr Zaliha Mustafa, announced an initiative to provide free sanitary pads in the Ministry of Health itself to set an example.
In honour of these small wins for women’s health, Tatler takes a closer look at the Malaysian period care brands making an impact in local communities, whether by raising awareness of eco-friendly and cost-effective period care alternatives or donating pads to reduce period poverty.
Bobble
Founded by female empowerment advocate, cancer survivor and chief 'estrogen' officer Malisse Tan, Bobble is on a mission to educate more Malaysian women about the benefits of organic cotton-based period products, especially to those with sensitive skin who are prone to harsh reactions from most off-the-shelf products.
At the height of the lockdown in Malaysia, Bobble donated three months’ supply of period pads to women in need. In 2022, Bobble hosted its first ever experiential masterclass called Power to Your Period, which took participants through a multi-sensory journey to understand practical ways to support their overall menstrual wellbeing by connecting better with their five senses.
See also: Obstetricians are debunking women’s health misinformation with a dose of humour on TikTok
Enya
Ever wondered how menstruation works for female astronauts in space? What is it like living with MRKH syndrome? Organic cotton pad brand Enya loves taking followers down a social media rabbit hole of eye-opening health discussions in accessible and interesting ways. If you’re not shopping for sanitary pads, pantyliners or menstrual heating patches on Enya’s website, you’ll enjoy a good read (and a good laugh) browsing its thought-provoking and cathartic blog posts.
Bloody Goodshop
Offering reusable silicone menstrual cups and period underwear, Bloody Goodshop works actively to break stigmas that surround reproductive health in Malaysia. The Bloody Goodshop is active organising Instagram live sessions with medical practitioners about infections, menstrual health and more relevant women’s health topics.
Don't miss: 6 Women-Owned F&B Businesses We Love in Malaysia
Breeze For You
Breeze For You doesn’t just preach a zero-waste lifestyle, it practises one as well. Breeze For You founder Alyssa Ng is a professional scuba diver who had to figure out an easy way to sterilise menstrual cups easily while on an island for several months at a time with limited access to kitchen utensils and amenities. Hence the origin story of the brand’s now popular sterilising tablets, which are packed in recycled glass jars.
The brand also partners with Inkaa Studio for its product packaging, which includes hand-sewn batik pouches made by TAPAi, a collective of differently abled student artisans in Terengganu.
Suci Cup
The all-female founding team behind Suci Cup comprises a mix of business owners, mum-preneurs, young working professionals and even university students. Suci Cup was created in response to Malaysia’s growing plastic pollution problem.
It also aims to promote menstrual cups as a safer, more sustainable and more comfortable alternative period care product for women (Suci Cup's menstrual cups come in pre-childbirth and post-childbirth sizes). Bonus points to the brand for posting highly informative and #relatable bilingual Instagram and blog posts about period health to get the message out there.
Read more: Meet Petrina Goh, the Tech CEO and Mother of Two Who Is in the Business of Parenting
ButterCup Club
A brand featured at Tatler Malaysia’s Sustainability Weekend 2024, ButterCup Club, believes menstruation isn’t (and shouldn’t be) taboo but a health topic that all genders should openly discuss. Its mission is to normalise these conversations without shame while offering a range of eco-friendly menstrual cups in various colours and sizes to suit different users’ needs.
Blood Malaysia
Established in 2014, Blood is period care brand that came into popularity for being one of the first brands globally to create pads made out of corn, said to be three times drier than cotton and naturally antibacterial and naturally hypoallergenic. Aside from its innovative corn pads, Blood Malaysia also offers menstrual cramp heat patches as well as similar versions for the neck, knee and lower back.
Athena Empowers
Can’t wrap your head around the idea of reusable pads? Social enterprise Athena Empowers recommends trying out reusable pantyliners first.
Founded by award-winning entrepreneur Anja Juliah Abu Bakar, Athena Empowers is dedicated to fighting period poverty in Malaysia and spreading awareness about menstrual health through self development programmes funded by the sale of its reusable period care products. Anja has even travelled to the most remote villages in Malaysia to educate orang asli girls about menstrual hygiene and provide reusable pads so that the girls could attend school classes with as little disruption as possible.
Since the brand started in 2015, it has donated over 3,600 period products to women and girls in need. In addition to reusable pads and pantyliners, Athena Empowers also offers washable baby diapers, washable Velcro adult diapers and balm for menstrual cramps.
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Previously contributing to Esquire Malaysia, Expat Lifestyle and Newsweek, Tania oversees digital stories across Tatler’s key content pillars, also leading the Front & Female platform exploring issues and topics affecting women today.
