Black-Owned Feminine Care Brand ‘Femly’ Heads to CVS

June 4, 2023

Arion Long holds a box from her Femly line to the camera (Image: Arion Long) — Arion Long is the heart and brain behind Femly, a Black-owned company revolutionizing feminine care. (Image: Arion Long)

*A new, Black-owned feminine care company has arrived at CVS stores in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Femly, founded by Arion Long, features feminine care products made with 100% cotton, while other major brands use products containing harmful chemicals that can lead to health problems. At age 26, Long was diagnosed with cervical cancer, an illness she believes was caused by the harmful toxins in her feminine products.

“We assume because some of these pads are white, that they’re clean. That is so far from the truth,” she says in an interview with Black Enterprise. “Historically, many of the popular pad brands were made with synthetic materials like nylon, which is known for harboring heat and bacteria. The other side of that is many of these pads included ingredients like Bisphenol A bleach dioxins, which are linked to reproductive illnesses and cancer.”

Long says she felt it necessary to offer a healthy alternitive to all period-having people.

“We want to increase access to both health, education and healthier products for the complete feminine lifecycle. We want to give you the content you need and the products you deserve from your first period on,” she said.

Before Femly arrived in CVS, Long invented a first-of-its-kind hygiene machine that dispenses Femly’s organic products. She placed the machines in restrooms nationwide, which has helped more than 25,000 people.

So I did something scary…I invented a first-of-it’s-kind hygiene machine that leverages data and dispenses our certified organic products for free in restrooms around the country! A 91 year old told me “bad bitches have patents”- elders never lie! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/g8POQV6rYs

— arionklong (@arionklong) December 29, 2021

“There are so many organizations that get $200 million in revenue or more,” she said. “We want to be a unicorn that reaches a billion. So, we’re just taking all of the steps to align ourselves to change more lives.”

Each of Femly’s products contains a QR code that will link to Femly’s website and a blog where women’s menstrual and pregnancy issues are discussed.