Welcome to an insight into Go&Move, a pioneering company dedicated to advancing menstrual products in Taiwan. Founded by Yuan-yi Chen and Fiona Shih, Go&Move offers a range of innovative period products, including menstrual cups and period underwear. With over a decade of experience, Yuan-yi and Fiona have been at the forefront of introducing and advocating for these alternatives, challenging traditional perceptions and practices surrounding menstruation.
The founders share their personal experiences growing up in Taiwan, revealing a time when menstruation was often treated as something secret. In elementary school, period education was often separate for girls, and the topic was discussed quietly, sometimes using euphemisms like "my guest is coming" or "my auntie is coming". Sanitary pads were often hidden in small bags, reflecting a sense of shame or discomfort associated with periods. Even common terms like "sanitary pad" were sometimes replaced with nicknames like "apple bread".
However, Fiona and Yuan-yi have witnessed and contributed to a significant shift. They note that now, in many schools, boys and girls receive period education together, and adults and children are increasingly curious and open about the topic. More importantly, more people are becoming aware of the importance of simply saying "period" or "menstruation" openly.
The decision to focus on menstruation issues stemmed from personal "aha" moments. For Yuan-yi, trying a tampon in college was transformative, offering a feeling of freedom, enabling activities like swimming and surfing during her period. Later, discovering menstrual cups added another layer of freedom through reusability, reducing the need to constantly buy disposable products. As an industrial designer, she was part of the team behind the first menstrual cup project in Taiwan. These experiences fueled her desire to make a change, especially as new period products began appearing in Taiwan, sparking discussions and making people talk more openly about menstruation. This led them to introduce period panties in Taiwan, seeing it as a new product type that aligns well with Taiwanese habits.
Fiona's motivation also came from a difficult relationship with traditional pads. She described feeling "tortured" during her period and comparing pads to "diapers". Trying a tampon, particularly those with an applicator which were not readily available in Taiwan at the time, felt like it "saved her life". This experience turned her into a dedicated tampon user, often buying them overseas and sharing samples with friends to encourage them to try. At that time, sanitary pads were the most common product, and the range of period products in Taiwan was very limited.
Introducing innovative products like menstrual cups faced significant challenges in Taiwan. Before their crowdfunding project, menstrual cups were considered medical devices in Taiwan and were not easily available; importing them without approval could lead to confiscation and fines. Producing them required substantial investment, and the business model was challenging since a single cup lasts for about 10 years. This made it difficult to attract foreign companies to focus on the relatively small Taiwanese market.
Fiona and Yuan-yi met during the crowdfunding project for the first legally available menstrual cup in Taiwan, which became available around 2017. Prior to this, there was a lot of fear and misinformation surrounding menstrual cups, with discussions often focusing on concerns about virginity or changes to the vagina. They actively engaged with the public, replying to these discussions to provide accurate knowledge about menstruation, anatomy, and how to use the products. Through this effort, the conversation shifted from fear to practical questions about usage and cleaning. Go&Move launched Taiwan's first period panty brand in 2018.
Their motivation to start Go&Move together was rooted in seeing the impact they could make. Fiona notes that before their project, "nobody knows me cup". They realized that if they didn't act, only a few people would continue pushing for change. They felt a strong sense of responsibility to "do something" to make the future better and avoid regret. Seven years after starting, many people in Taiwan now know about period panties, and they've even encountered surprising examples of increased awareness, like a middle-aged male taxi driver knowing about menstrual cups.
Go&Move's work is not just about products; it's about fostering an open conversation about a natural process that affects half the world's population for half their lives. By introducing new options and providing education, Yuan-yi and Fiona are helping Taiwanese women gain more freedom and comfort during their periods and challenging the societal stigma that has historically surrounded menstruation. Their journey is a powerful testament to the impact that dedicated individuals can have in creating significant societal change.
