As a part of the Morning Lazziness series about empowering women who are encouraging and doing incredible things with their ideas in society, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mateja Kalin.
Mateja Kalin is the creator of LaliCup. It’s a menstrual cup- for women with the heavy flow. LaliCup is an improved menstrual cup with an unique design for a greater capacity and better well-being
Can you share your “backstory” with us? + When and how did it all begin?
As a child, I used to dread the time when we went to the beach during the summer holidays at the same time as I was on my period. Sure, tampons were a possible solution, but I always found them horribly uncomfortable and had to change them every 2 hours (due to my heavy flow). The other option would be to take a week off swimming, but as a child, I didn’t want to miss all the fun I had in the water.
There was always this idea in the back of my mind that there must exist a better solution to period problems; one that allows you to swim and holds for more than 3 hours before change. And so, in my twenties, I decided that it’s time for modern, eco and healthy menstrual products that improve the lives of every individual.
That is why I created LaliCup menstrual cup that provides extra comfort and freedom during menstruation even for women with heavy flow as it catches every single drop.
How your LaliCup menstrual cup is helpful and what message do you want to deliver with it?
Care-free, healthy, reliable and active. These are the ideals that people are looking for during their period, right?
Ant that is my mission – to give something more than just another cup. I want to offer complete protection and freedom regardless of what day of the month it is so that LaliCup users can enjoy whatever they are doing from swimming to sleeping.
Thanks to its high capacity, LaliCup users do not need to look for a toilet everywhere they go as our menstrual cup provides protection for multiple hours so they can truly seize the moment without worrying about bloody stains on clothes and at the same time knowing that they did something good for the environment and for the wallet too.
How does a LaliCup menstrual cup work?
LaliCup menstrual cup is super easy to use. It is made of soft medical silicone, which can be easily folded into a smaller shape to ensure a safe, comfortable and painless insertion.
USAGE IN THREE STEPS:
Are menstrual cups and tampons better than pads?
The more important question here is if alternative period products that can be used multiple times (menstrual cups, washable pads, period underwear…) are better than single-use period products (tampons and pads)?
They absolutely are. Our use of conventional disposable pads and tampons is rather wasteful. Just imagine how much money just one person spends on single-use tampons and pads. Not to mention the amount of period products that end up piling in the landfills!
That is why we offer so many less-waste alternatives at our web store (www.lalicup.com). From period panties and reusable cloth pads to, of course, menstrual cups. All of them save us a lot of money and are environmentally friendly.
Do your menstrual cups suit for doing sports?
Yes, with LaliCup you can work out as much as your heart desires. Our cup offers complete protection regardless of the activity.
Want to swim on your period? LaliCup can be used as a water tampon and prevents water from entering the vagina.
What challenges did you face at the start of your business?
My biggest challenge was (and to lesser extent continues to be) this deeply rooted habit of single use tampons and pads usage, which is still present in mentality of many people.
A lot of them are not even aware that there are better period alternatives not just for our planet but for their body as well. My beliefs, perseverance, and vision lead me forward.
What is the best business advice you would like to give who are planning to start out?
Do everything with passion and enthusiasm and likewise surround yourself with passionate people, because the time will come when things will not go as smoothly as you planned at the beginning and it is your team’s perseverance, passion, and confidence/trust in the product that will lead your business forward.
Is it normal to experience pain while using a menstrual cup?
When inserted properly, you shouldn’t experience pain when using a menstrual cup. These however are some of the most common reasons why the pain can occur: the cup is too big, too firm or it sits too high up and is pushing against the cervix.
You just have to find your “Goldilocks menstrual cup” and you will not feel it at all. That is why we offer LaliCups in 4 different sizes We also pay a lot of attention to the material – the cup is designed using soft medical silicone allowing the cup to be easily folded and inserted.
What is your favorite mantra or affirmation that you say to yourself to keep you going?
I don’t have a particular mantra but when I don’t feel as motivated as usual, I like to scroll to the feedback from our satisfied customers. There is nothing better than the feeling that you get when you know that your work has meaning and that it has changed somebody’s life for the better!
What’s the hardest thing about being your own boss that isn’t obvious?
Time management! I often like to joke that this business is my third child so it occupies a big portion of my brain even when I have left the office. That is why I will reiterate the importance of a good team – they sometimes just manage to let me leave work at the office. 🙂
What does success mean to you?
Success to me is knowing that I have produced high-quality products and contributed positively to creating a cleaner environment with my less-waste period product and at the same time helping women who have been struggling with the heavy flow for way too long.
