20 minutes went to visit Pemlab, “temple of female well-being” co-founded by Léa Déturche and Julie Veneri. With the creation of this first place dedicated to menstrual well-being, these two young entrepreneurs aim to offer a place of listening and support on all subjects and all stages of the intimate lives of women, their first period until menopause.
A shop but also a place of listening and health
When you enter Pemlab, you will first come across the “shop” section. This offers food supplements, products for painful periods as well as for menopause. Julie Veneri, who suffers from painful periods, ensures the effectiveness of the products herself before they go on sale. “We really complement traditional medicine. We are providing support, additional support for this medicine,” specifies the co-founder to 20 minutes. In addition to health and cosmetic products, the store also offers menstrual panties to help women “feel beautiful” and continue to do the activities they want during their cycles. For example, there are menstrual shorts for physical activity and menstrual swimsuits. “We’re even going to have sexy menstrual panties, it’s a bit of a change from grandmother’s panties,” says Léa Déturche, showing panties with lace or another with the words “you’re good, baby”.
In addition to the accessories, Pemlab adds added value with its consultation room which accommodates around fifteen women’s health specialists, including a hypnotherapist, a sophrologist, an osteopath, a dietician, but also several naturopaths and magnetizers. “Clients who have a massage leave on cloud nine,” says Emma, Arvigo massage practitioner at Pemlab. “After a massage, there is a lot of serenity and less tension and sometimes pain which diminishes or even disappears. »
“I was tired of running around with no answers, and here I have all the advice and products I need. I wish there was this kind of place long before,” confides to 20 minutes a client who discovered the center following endometriosis.
Pemlab wants “women’s health to be everyone’s concern”
Another Pemlab objective: “that women’s health is everyone’s concern”. The founders are investing in the fight against menstrual poverty, in particular by collecting new sanitary napkins, cups and menstrual panties in the donation box available at the store, which are then given to the French association for the fight against menstrual poverty , Elementary rules. “We have already donated part of our profits, at the very beginning of the adventure. These are fundamental subjects and we think that as a company, even if these are not huge sums, we can help in our small way,” says Léa Déturche.
“Taking care of your health can be quite expensive for women, we would also like to ask for help from the public authorities so that part of our menstrual protection can be covered and a greater number of others women can access quality products,” continues the young woman.
In addition to their associative commitments, the center also has the mission of “lifting the taboo” and educating on subjects such as periods, postpartum or menopause for example. “We are trying to make people understand that blood is not dirty, it is natural and it will be every month,” explains Julia Veneri. I don’t feel dirty every month, personally. Nature is well made, and if it is well made, it’s because we have our rules too. »