There are two brick-and-mortar stores in the US specializing in period care products — and one of them, Period Nirvana, just opened on Haywood Road.
More than 10 years ago, Kim Rosas began blogging and sharing YouTube videos with educational content about the variety of menstrual products available. She amassed a following at a time when she says these resources weren’t so easy to come by (despite the fact that women menstruate for about 40 years of their lives). It led her to founding Period Nirvana in 2020, stepping onto the scene as the first online reusable period product store. Thanks to some viral TikToks, the shop “started taking off almost right away,” said Rosas.
Period Nirvana’s wide array of products is inspired by its brand ethos, “from menarche to menopause,” and even includes an item Rosas herself helped design. Beyond the cups, discs, books, gifts, and wellness items lining the shelves, Period Nirvana also chronicles how we entered this modern era of period products through its Menstrual Museum.
Rosas’ history degree (and eBay) came in handy for this one. For years, she has been collecting items that story the innovation of menstrual products — blunders in all. The two cases in the front of the store span 100 years of history, not only showcasing the products themselves, but how advertising has changed throughout the period (pun intended).
Ultimately, Rosas’ decision to open a brick-and-mortar aligns with her objective from day one.
“My goal has always been to match people with the exact period product that works for them just to improve their quality of life,” she said.
Helping people find products tailored to their comfort and convenience in a supportive and educational environment, Rosas also hopes to reduce the stigma of periods.
You can visit Period Nirvana at 315 Haywood Rd., Ste. 113, Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Bonus: While you’re shopping, you can also purchase products to donate to Asheville Period Pantry at a 25% discount.
