Tell us a little about yourself! What do you want customers to know about you?

First, I have to say, thank you for asking! I would like customers to know that my product and the passion I have for it is thoroughly genuine and reflective of who I am. The message of self-acceptance and the joy of finding a product that actually works on blood stains and makes life easier is what I truly hope for women. I want women and girls to find Ruby’s Red Wash a practical, happy and encouraging part of their world, even though it may merely be a product they use once or twice a month. To me, Ruby’s Red Wash is a movement: an appreciation of female being and some liberation in a bottle. Anything I say and do regarding Ruby’s Red Wash is very personal to me and, frankly, just like something you’d find in my diary.

What inspired you to create Ruby’s Red Wash? What was the process like?

I was conducting research for my Ph.D. dissertation and it was on the phenomenology of Menstruation. I compared women’s concrete experiences of menstruation to an extensive analysis of the meanings of menstruation found in and produced by the culture. The title turned out to be ‘The Bloody Truth: A Psychological and Cultural Study of Menstruation as Lived and Experienced by Women.’ It took about six years to conduct and in the end it was long and really two dissertations.

The review of the cultural meanings of menstruation became very depressing to analyze and write about. It was essentially a review of the history of oppression of women– and, the most deflating part was that these oppressive, damning messages to women are still present in the culture, only they are still invisible to women.

Women have taken on or internalized the notions that they have a ‘dirty secret’ because of menstruation and this dirty secret makes them irrational compared to men and also inferior. Even women who grew up in a fairly progressive and accepting household demonstrated that they were not immune to the (patriarchal) messages about menstruation delivered by the culture. That was and still is depressing to me.

I started thinking about how to help the greatest number of women to address this basic misunderstanding about their being. It was my contention all along that the fact that menstruation is still a secret in the culture demonstrates that women are still second class citizens. As long as the topic remains taboo and ‘inappropriate,’ then women and girls still do not share the same status as men and boys, and female being remains not fully embraced by the culture.

What do you find most exciting about your career?

Every now and then I realize that this is thoroughly mine and I am, for once, fully in charge. I can say anything I want on my blog, I can run a special if I want, and I can work with the people with whom I want to collaborate. It’s also very scary for those same reasons. Sometimes it is terrifying because mistakes are completely my own, too.

But, the best part is imagining all those women and girls out there who already have their own bottle of Ruby’s. Every time they use it, and even when it is just sitting on their shelves, all of these people are holding my message of self-acceptance. Every one of them has accepted that it is possible to be honored with a product which respects the unique qualities and functions of their body.

On my website, I call Ruby’s Red Wash my ‘gift’ to women and girls, and I honestly feel that joy of gift-giving through the creation of this product. I am still hand-bottling and with every bottle I fill and label and ship, I actively imagine and hope for a certain kind of relief and peace for the recipient. Although I don’t want to curse myself, I have said that if the business crashes tomorrow, I will still consider it a success, given that I have already reached so many women and girls.

Your blog frequently discusses the messages women receive about menstruation and their bodies. What is your goal regarding the conversations we have with each other and in the media about women’s bodies?

My goal is to have women at least stop and question what is being fed to them by the media (and their friends, family and co-workers). One of my girlfriends recently told me about an exchange she witnessed between some of her friends, two of whom happened to be lesbian. There was some discussion going on about reproductive rights and one woman made a joke, ‘What do you care? It doesn’t apply to you.’ My friend made the point that just because you don’t plan on having children and that your sexual preference doesn’t create the circumstances for pregnancy and childbirth doesn’t mean that reproductive rights doesn’t apply to you. It is a human issue. The argument that lesbians “don’t use” their reproductive organs parallels the old, sexist idea that women are only as valuable as long as they can produce children. Countless hysterectomies have been performed over the years because women “aren’t using” their uteruses for childbearing anymore. Until my friend spoke up, her friend didn’t understand the invalidating idea which she was perpetuating. Those are the kinds of dialogs I hope to create.

Do you use reusable menstrual products? If so, what do you use and what prompted you to make the switch?

For the last 10 years, since my research and discovering dioxins, I have been using organic tampons and some pads. I order a year’s supply and stash them in every bathroom in the house and in my purses. That has been a luxury for me- to have an ample supply, something I didn’t know about or give myself as a teenager or when I was in my twenties. However, I have been planning on trying a menstrual cup, because I think that would be perfect alternative to tampons for me.

What do you wish you had known as a young woman experiencing menarche? How has your perspective on menstruation changed since then?

I had a mother who did her best but who was terrified about all kinds of things in life including sexuality and a father who was downright disgusted about all things related to menstruation and wasn’t afraid to show it. When I started my period, I called my mother to the bathroom. She came in and then went back out. When she came back in, she handed me a box of tampons with a smile, albeit a very forced smile, and said ‘good luck.’ Even though her smile was forced,she was trying to tell me that what was happening to me was okay and that life would be okay.

My mother died the next year and I was pretty much left to my own devices regarding everything. I had to deal with periods in total secrecy and thought that’s just what being a woman means. I could have used all kinds of help then, but I would have given anything if someone had given me a period starter kit or a lovely period pack of sorts. The message that those send would have really helped me to counter all the crap I heard about female being. Something like that would have helped me feel better about being, in general.

Do you think it’s possible for women to celebrate their cycle rather than viewing it as a “curse”? How could this be accomplished?

I think it’s possible to view your menstrual cycle as any other part of yourself. Do I always love the way I react in the world? Do I always love the way I write? Do I always love my hair? The answer is ‘no’ to all of those questions. But I do, however, always try to be appreciative of my attempt to handle things, my attempt at writing, the mere presence of my hair. By the same token, I do not always love my period. I think the message that women need to always love and celebrate their menstruation is a terrible burden to place on women. Sometimes it’s just damn annoying to have cramps or to have flooded your pants or to have buy menstrual gear. I do not ‘celebrate’ my menstrual cycle by pretending that cramps are glorious and that the expense for menstrual supplies is a great and wonderful thing. I am, however, respectful of my body that it needs to cramp to menstruate. And I make sure I honor myself and my cycle by having enough supplies on hand or resting when I need to and recognizing that some of my emotionality during my period may be extreme but that it also provides me insight into aspects of my life that I might otherwise ignore. Like the women in my study, even the ones who declared that they hated their menstrual cycle, I have a relationship to my period, it is a part of me, and I will miss its presence when it is gone.

We’re excited to announce our new partnership with Empower Women in Africa! Together, we hope to bring educational and economic opportunities to girls and women in rural Africa. And you can help: by purchasing an Empower Kit to be given to a girl in need, you can help her complete her education and achieve her dreams!

Here’s Lori, founder of EWA, to share with you the successes of their first year:

“Empower Women in Africa was founded in February 2011 with the vision of providing a pathway to education for girls throughout rural Africa. To accomplish this, we provide scholarships to girls living in poverty and showing promise in the classroom, and by providing reusable cloth menstrual pads so there is not a struggle every month to find sanitary products with limited funds.

In our first year, we have been able to provide scholarships to five girls at Andara Combined School in Namibia. These scholarships cover every cost that comes along with their education from their school fees, school uniform and even a food stipend for their families when good grades are achieved to encourage the family to take an interest in their daughter’s education.

We have also been instrumental in getting over 2200 cloth menstrual pads to girls in Namibia and Uganda. The recipients have ranged from an orphanage with Show Mercy International, schools, conferences and after school clubs. Thanks to GladRags, Days for Girls and a growing population of volunteers for getting all of the pads sewn.

In 2012, we’re excited to be working with GladRags to be their exclusive pad donation partner. Because of their commitment to our cause, our pad program is expected to at least double in our second year! This also opens up more time to focus on our scholarship program and we already have five more girls selected for sponsorship!”

As of today, March 4 (the New Moon), I will hand over the GladRags keys to Tracy Puhl, the new owner.  Yay for me!  Yay for Tracy!  And yay for all of you smart and loyal customers who have supported us over the years because Tracy and her team will be doing great things with GladRags.

GladRags came into being when I first moved to Portland and needed a way to make money so I could be home with our 2-year-old daughter while my husband worked in Los Angeles.That WAHM business turned into a bigger enterprise than I imagined and now GladRags are found in nearly every natural product store in the U.S. It was a job that allowed me to stay available to Emma, who, by the way, is now in her third year of college – that’s how long I’ve been running GladRags.  And it allowed me the flexibility to go back to school for my BFA. Even my artwork owes a debt of gratitude to the ‘rags, because a lot of my work is created from scraps from the cutting room floor!

I feel very proud of my work at GladRags. Proud for all we’ve done for the environment and for what we’ve done for women. We have reached hundreds of thousands of women with messages of empowerment and respect for their bodies and their menstrual cycles. I hope we’ve made menstruation a little less of a taboo subject. With a name like GladRags, you know you are turning stereotypes on their head!

What an adventure it has been, meeting amazing people in the natural products industry – store buyers, brokers, fellow business people. Many thanks go to the spirited, committed staff who have worked with me at GladRags – I love these women! They helped me, they taught me, and they kept me hip – and most of them are still my friends. My loving husband, Bruce, deserves a shout–out, too, for all his support over the years. And especially to the wonderful, warm, progressive-thinking customers who have made it all possible, a great big thank you!

For the last few years, however, my focus has shifted more and more to my art career. It’s hard to do both jobs well at the same time. I need more time in the studio and GladRags deserves someone to give it full attention and fresh energy. Tracy has been working at GladRags for a few years and has proven to be creative, enterprising, and downright indispensable. I can already see that she will put herself into it with a commitment that perhaps it never got from me. I know she will promote the message of healthy bodies,  strong spirits, and a healthy environment in new and creative ways.

Watch out, world! GladRags has entered a new cycle!

- Brenda

PS: if you want to stay in touch with me personally, I’m over here:

www.brendamallory.com

(Sorry for the blurry photo — we’ve had a glass of champagne to celebrate!)

A note from Tracy:

Hello, GladRags Community!

I’m so excited to take this big new step in my life and to continue my journey with GladRags!  I can’t wait to make GladRags even stronger as both a company and a community, and I think we can (and will!) achieve some amazing things in the coming years.

You’ll continue to see the same quality of products and service you expect from GladRags, and I hope that together we can continue sharing the message of empowerment, sustainability, and health with even more women. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with your suggestions and ideas; I want to hear from YOU and learn about how GladRags can better serve its community — and the planet!

You can leave a comment here for Brenda to wish her well in her new endeavors.  She is an amazingly talented artist, and I expect we’ll see great things from her as she devotes more of her time to her art!

And of course, thank you for your continued support of GladRags.  We wouldn’t be here without you!

xoxo

Tracy

email me / Facebook me

We’ve all seen the “This is What a Feminist Looks Like” t-shirts, blog posts, Facebook groups, and magazine articles.  This iconic saying originated from the National Organization for Women’s campaign to show that feminists come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and backgrounds.  So we thought: isn’t it time to show the world what a GladRags Guerrilla looks like?

You might be wondering, what is a GladRags Guerrilla?  A GladRags Guerrilla is someone who believes that all women should be empowered to make the best choice for her body, lifestyle, and the planet when it comes to her menstrual supplies.  A GladRags Guerrilla believes that menstruation is not something to be ashamed of, and that we have the power to make positive changes in our society’s view of women’s bodies.  And a GladRags Guerrilla believes that the only way to accomplish these things is to have open, honest discussions with one another.

If you’re reading this blog, chances are that you’re a GladRags Guerrilla, too!  You can make it official by signing up here. When you sign up, you’ll receive a package containing stickers, coupons, postcards and more to help you spread the word about reusable menstrual options and start having conversations with the women in your life.

And now, we want to see what a GladRags Guerrilla looks like!  Send in a photo of yourself next to the poster you put up in your dorm bathroom, wearing your GladRags pin, or hosting a discussion group with your friends.  Be goofy, creative, serious, or artistic — just show us you.

We’ll share the photos here on our blog and Facebook to show the world what GladRags Guerrillas look like.  And I’m pretty sure we’re a diverse crowd of people, so let’s prove that while some GladRags Guerrillas are rocking dreadlocks and Birkenstocks, we can’t all be lumped into just one category.  We’ll pick a few of our favorite pics to spotlight on January 26th and those submitters will win their choice of a Moon Cup Kit or Pad Sampler Kit!  To submit your picture, email it to us at orders@gladrags.com by 1/19/11.

Need inspiration?  Here’s Alex and Tracy showing what WE look like when we’re showing our GladRags pride!

Please note: By submitting your picture, you give GladRags permission to post the picture on our Facebook, blog, and website at any time.

Hannah is one of two interns who will be joining the GladRags Team for the summer.  We’re super excited to have her on board! 

Name: Hannah Forman
Age: 20
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Current location: Portland, Oregon
Occupation: GladRags Intern! almost college graduate, life-long student

Interests: Nutrition, Yoga, German, French, Feminism, French feminism, Performance Arts, Traveling, Photo Taking, Bicycling and the Sun.

How long have you used reusable menstrual products?: Haven’t started yet but I am looking forward to it!
Reason for making the switch to reusables: Well, GladRags makes a pretty clever case for it – I’m concerned about the well-being of the earth, especially in this near-apocalyptic age (2012). I’m also concerned about the well-being of my body and would like to remain toxin free as much as possible.

Funny anecdotes, deep thoughts, or anything else you’d like to share: I used to  try to hide the fact that I was on my period at all costs. (similar to June friend) Now, I think that’s a misuse of time that could be spent not only feeling great instead of feeling ashamed, but also talking openly about what alternatives are out there to support us.

Hi! I’m Alyssa, GladRags intern for the summer! My job is to create an informative and fun zine for young women, and another for young girls about alternative menstrual products. I am hoping you, fellow GladRags followers, can help me come up with a great name for each zine. I’m hoping to have the title be straightforward, but witty. Thanks for your help!

Alex and I had a blast at the Seattle Green Festival this past weekend!  We were crazy busy, but it was so much fun to meet everyone — from women who’ve been using GladRags for years, to those who’d never even heard of us before.

One young woman spotted our booth and ran up to tell me that she had only heard of the Green Festival because her sister in Minneapolis had told her that GladRags would be there.  Another told us, “I hope this isn’t too much information, but I’m using a GladRag right now!”  Funnily enough, about five other women told us the same thing over the course of the weekend!

The other exhibitors were just as friendly as the festival attendees.  Our fellow Portlanders Honest Tea kept us supplied with delicious beverages (have you tried their kombucha??) and Sandrine swapped two bags from her June 15 collection in exchange for a set of GladRags.  Organic Essence let us try their brand-new lip balm (in awesome biodegradable packaging!) and we shared some pantyliners with our booth neighbor to take home to his teenage daughter.

Overall, Seattle was a great experience and one I hope we can repeat at the next Green Festival!  More importantly, it reminded me that living a sustainable life shouldn’t be a solitary pursuit.  On that note, your Green Goal this week is to get involved with your neighbors, friends, and community to talk about what you’re doing to save the planet.  Make connections, get inspired, and support each other in the pursuit of sustainable living!

Alyssa is one of two interns who will be joining the GladRags Team for the summer.  We’re super excited to have her on board! 

Name: Alyssa Beers
Age: 23
Hometown:Monroe, Connecticut
Current location: Portland, Oregon
Occupation: Crazy/Sexy/Cool GladRags Intern for the summer! Artist, Musician, Wall Ball Enthusiast, College Graduate (anyone want to give me a job?)

Interests: Drawing, collage, bicycling, playing wall ball, free boxes, diy projects, braiding hair, the many colors of wood, novice gardening.
Dreams: Going on a bike tour (it’s happening in July!) & to stop biting my nails (might never happen).

How long have you used reusable menstrual products?: 3 years
Reason for making the switch to reusables: My friend Mary said she had to go put in her “blood cup”- I had no idea what that meant so when I asked the answer was “Oh a safe, reusable cup that holds your period blood” I said “I HAVE TO HAVE THAT”. I’d like to say I’m “environmentally conscious” and was surprised to learn there were such amazing products — some from right here in Portland! — that I had yet to even hear about.

Funny anecdotes, deep thoughts, or anything else you’d like to share: The first time I used my Keeper I totally poured blood all down my arm. In a public restroom. People thought I’d come out of the stall having murdered a small animal or something. I’m totally vocal about all bodily issues after spending many of my formative years afraid to so much as fart in a room with my friends. I’ve come a long way to now being comfortable not only talking about how awesome it is to use menstrual products that won’t harm me or my environment, but comfortable enough with my body to use ‘em in the first place. Really, all you need is that first time of being like, yep, that’s my menstrual blood on my arm, and then you’re set for life.

Take a break from your (hopefully not too) manic Monday with this week’s Menstrual Monday: a line-up of interesting news articles, blogs, art, and more, straight from the GladRags Twitter feed.

• Pick up a copy of the latest Mothering Magazine for their awesome article on cloth diapers; a lot of the concepts in “The Diaper Dilemma” apply to cloth pads, too.

• Lunette Selenes are in!  You’ll have to excuse us shouting this from the rooftops, because these cups are just so darn pretty.  I think I actually clapped my hands with glee when the package arrived at the office.

• Read “Saving the World by Not Using Tampons” to learn more about the founder of Green Drinks Singapore and why her first experience recycling was not so fun.

• “Eight Myths about Washable Pads Dispelled” makes me love the folks at Scarleteen even more than I already did.  Such an amazing resource for young people!

• Kali from The MakeUp Drawer Blog recently heard about cloth pads for the first time and shares her thoughts.  She says she’s not a convert (yet) but wants to hear your experience in the comments — so make sure you let her know how much you love reusables!

• Go Green Street has five super easy tips to help ease menstrual cramps — naturally.

• What does it mean to stop menstruating?  The Great Whatsit reflects on the finale of her 29 years of menstruation.

• Here at GladRags HQ we’ve been preparing for this year’s Green Festival in Seattle.  We’re hoping lots of GladRags fans will stop by our booth to say hi! Volunteers for the festival get free passes, so there’s no excuse to miss this incredible event!

Do you live in the Portland area and love GladRags?  We’re looking for an intern to join us at our North Portland HQ for the summer — COULD IT BE YOU?!?!?!

Under the guidance of three (pretty awesome, if we do say so ourselves) staff members, you’ll get ongoing training on projects that will exercise your research and networking skills. You’ll be encouraged to take part in our staff meetings and will have opportunities to learn the ins and outs of the green business and women’s health fields. During the course of your internship, you’ll gain valuable skills that can be put to use in the non-profit sector, advertising, green business, and more.

We are all super excited to have an additional team member this summer and hope to find someone who is as enthusiastic about working at GladRags as we are!  If you’re interested in joining us, please read the “fine print” below and apply by emailing us at orders@gladrags.com with a letter of interest, resume, and writing sample.  Deadline is May 14th — we can’t wait to hear from you!

The Fine Print:

Please have an interest in environmentalism, the ability to talk about menstruation openly, and a desire to learn more about the green business market. It’s important to us that you embrace the GladRags mission and believe in our products.  Bicycling to work is not necessary, but strongly encouraged!  Biking companions may be provided depending on route (if you ride with us, you may be required to stop for donuts occasionally).

Wage/salary/stipend: Unpaid

Schedule:  180 hours for the summer.  Flexible scheduling.  A firm time commitment is required.