"No woman should be held back by her period"

Meet the entrepreneurs shaking up women’s health

As the name suggests, there’s more than one woman behind &SISTERS… meet mother and daughter duo Claire and Lucy Lettice.

The original inspiration to create a natural feminine care brand came from Claire who realised that most women were in the dark about the feminine care products that they used every single month. She herself had experienced the shame and hardship resulting from the lack of access to safe period products first-hand.

This experience, combined with an eye-opening trip around the world, was the catalyst to take action and create a natural women’s wellness brand that was both ethical and sustainable.
Co-founder Lucy, daughter of Claire, spent most of her career as a buyer as well as working for a zero waste start-up and a chain of health-food stores and so has the perfect insight to create a product offering that was both "healthy and eco".
Together, they've created a natural feminine care brand, and donate 10% of profits to tackle period poverty across the globe. Their aim is that no woman should be held back by her period.

Tell us about your brand and how you came about?

    C: "The inspiration for creating a natural feminine care brand came after realising that most women are in the dark as to the products they use on a monthly basis. Mainstream brands tend not to list their ingredients and probably for good reason! They’re often made from non-breathable, non-biodegradable synthetic fibres. Having been a fan of organic cotton products for a while and never one to shy away from a challenge, a more natural & healthy period that was better for the body & the planet seemed a cause worth pursuing.

    "Having spent 20 years gaining experience and earning an income advising companies on how best to market their products, making a difference and giving back is also something I feel strongly about."

    Is safe access to feminine care a global issue?

    C: "Yes. I became further aware of the taboo & hardship surrounding feminine care when travelling through South-East Asia in my mid-twenties. Whilst visiting countries such as Nepal, Myanmar and India it was hard to find sanitary pads let alone tampons. And I was the lucky one. Unable to afford menstrual products many girls and women resorted to using leaves, bark, ash, mud and even animal dung. Of course these not only caused serious infections but were often ineffective. Fast forward twenty years and whether through poverty, politics, stigmatism or lack of awareness, easy access to feminine care products is still not the norm in many parts of the world."

    What’s your biggest challenge as a brand?

    C: "Finding the right people for the job who share our passion and values."

    Tell us your favourite quote, mantra or best piece of advice

    C: "Stay Curious"

    What is your favourite discovery when you look around THE FIND?

    C: "The Geranium & Rhubarb handwash from The Soap Co evokes an English summer even though it's winter."

    What three things could you not live without?

    C: "Cups of tea, bubble baths, liquorice."

    What's your best beauty hack?

    C: "Using sand as a hand a foot scrub, I don’t understand why it hasn’t made its way into mainstream cosmetics; so much better than rice and sugar scrubs!"

    What's your biggest extravagance?

    C: "Beautifully made clothes!"

    What time does your day start & how do you start it?

    C: "Hot bath, followed by coffee and a cardamom bun."

    Which are your three favourite shops?

    C: "BHV Paris - basement only; the most amazing hardware store, only in Paris could chic Parisians walk out with a cut-to-measure piece of wood under their arm! Liberty London – everything here is just gorgeous, finally, it’s not really a store, but the farmers market on Noordermarket (Amsterdam) every Saturday for the most amazing organic and homegrown produce; the range of mushrooms alone is mind-blowing!"

    Now, let’s have a little fun and FIND out about you

    • Wellies or Flip-Flops - Flip flops, but only because they’re worn in the sun.
    • Bubble Bath or Hot Shower - Bubble bath no question.
    • Cinema or Theatre - Theatre, there’s nothing like seeing actors performing live, I’m always amazed how they remember their lines; the Donmar is a personal favourite.
    • Paperback or Kindle - Paperback, even hardback, you cant beat the smell and texture of paper especially in a new book.
    • Pressed Juice or Cocktail - Probably cocktail, but only because I like the combination of botanicals and spices.

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