Local mum and daughters launch sustainable period product line

Friday 24 June 2022

A local mum has started a sustainable period product business alongside her daughters after discovering that affordable and reusable products were not easily available in Jersey.

Pyrdlove was started by Ann Muhoro in 2021. At the time, the “inquisitive” trio - aged 4, 8, and 10 - were beginning to learn about adolescence and body changes.

Meanwhile, Ann was running a 'No More Taboo' campaign with Soroptimist International Jersey to encourage positive conversations around periods and educate women on sustainable period products.

This led to the mother and daughters discovering that conventional period products are very harmful to the environment and, while there are sustainable period products available in the market, they cannot be easily accessed in Jersey.

Ann said: “It took weeks for a pack of reusable period pants to be shipped into Jersey and buying them online did not always guarantee the products were of the quality anticipated. I couldn't believe that there were none available on-island!"

Pictured: Pyrdlove was started to fill the local gap in the market for sustainable period products.

In order to address this gap in the market, Pyrdlove was formed as a family-owned business with a vision to provide high-quality reusable period pants and swimwear serving the Jersey community and beyond online.

The name of the company aims to bring positivity to a subject that has been shunned for long, even though half the population experiences menstruation. 

Ann said: "My daughters actually helped a lot with coming up with the name! The three of them worked on mock designs of different names, but we eventually settled on Pyrdlove."

Eldest daughter, Reina (10), added: "It took me quite a while to come up with the designs and there was a bit of competition between me and my sisters. The final name was actually a mix of all of our different ideas which ended up being a good name."

Reina also helped out with other aspects of getting the business up and running: "I was like a test driver for the website and thought of stuff that my mum could add to make it better!"

The company has gained customers as far as Kenya and the USA, but their main focus is to ensure that they are having a positive local impact.

Ann said: "The whole inspiration for Pyrdlove was to get sustainable products here so that people can see and feel and touch before they buy instead of being forced to purchase online without knowing what they're getting. I want to let my people here, my community, benefit from reusable products. My goal is to reach every household in Jersey.

"My background is in IT, not marketing, so I've struggled with knowing how to raise awareness about the company! The plan is to get out there more and meet people locally. At the beginning of July, we will have a stand on the high street to try and encourage people to be both period positive and environmentally friendly."

Pictured: Ann, who loves outdoor activities, will often be seen sporting bright coloured outfits and believe that “having a period should not hinder my active lifestyle nor dictate my wardrobe”.

10-year-old Reina added that is she is feeling really excited about the future of the business and its potential positive impact: "Many of the girls in my class are afraid of talking about their periods so I try and mention it as much as possible to them. 

"I hope Pyrdlove will make girls realise that talking about their period isn't a bad thing; it happens to all girls and it's completely normal to have one. I'd love to be part of inspiring girls in my class to talk about it a little more!"

Ann added: "Being involved in this project has made it much easier for me to talk to my three girls about periods. When I was growing up, that was certainly not the case! We'd have to find out information in books, as there was no internet, and read them secretly under the table. It's a lot easier now to talk to young people about it and that's how it should be. We want to help where we can in opening that conversation for people."

She added: “I care about future generations and want to do what I can to ensure the earth can sustain life past our current generation.”

Pyrdlove products can be purchased online or at various Soroptimist events.