Latest news with #LisaTaylor
NZ Herald
6 days ago
- Health
- NZ Herald
New Zealand Founder Of Absorbent Lingerie Brand Wicks Intimates On Creating ‘The Product I've Always Wanted'
Lisa Taylor's Wicks Intimates an 'elevated' take on period, postpartum and everyday wear. The first time Lisa Taylor tried period underwear, it made her feel 'horrible', she says. A New Zealander now based in Melbourne, Taylor was on maternity leave at the time and experiencing postpartum bleeding, which can last for up to eight weeks after giving birth. 'You need to manage that as well as a healing body, and this whole new world and whole new you,' Taylor says. 'I couldn't quite face weeks and weeks and weeks of having a period that long, and all the waste – I just wanted to try something new, and so I tried period underwear for the first time.' However, her experience was 'not great'. 'They were ugly, they cut in, they made you feel horrible,' she recalls. Now, she's launched her own line of elastic-free absorbent lingerie, Wicks Intimates – something she needed in those early days and weeks after giving birth. Originally from Auckland, Taylor worked in New Zealand media before moving to Australia to work in PR. The idea for Wicks Intimates came when she realised there were few, if any, options for absorbent undergarments that still felt like luxury wear. 'There's such a clear gap for something that is elevated and a bit more sophisticated in that space,' she says. 'The period underwear industry is really just servicing younger bodies, and there's a dearth of options for 30-plus women from postpartum onwards. 'Further than that, there are literally none that are designed for light bladder leaks.' Commonly experienced by women during pregnancy and after giving birth, light bladder leaks occur when the pelvic floor muscles are weakened and can become more prevalent with age. They can be triggered by coughing, sneezing, laughing or physical activity, or caused by more serious medical conditions. 'It's just so prolific and yet there is nothing servicing those women. So I wanted to design something that is more sophisticated, skewing older – not that younger people can't wear them, they're just a bit more of a sophisticated option,' she says. As implied by the brand's name, Taylor's designs are moisture-wicking as well as antimicrobial and odour-resistant, while the term 'intimates' is associated with lingerie rather than purely practical period underwear. 'What's currently out there in terms of period underwear feels like it's an extension of pads and tampons, so I wanted to create a brand that feels like it's an extension of lingerie,' she says. 'It's for women from all stages of life and it's for women that just want something nicer.' She's created pieces with different levels of absorbency to suit a range of preferences and needs. 'To be honest, the look and feel between a high absorbency one and a moderately absorbent one is much of a muchness – they feel pretty much the same, they look pretty much the same, it's just the function of it.' The lowest absorbency range is the All Day Fresh range, designed for everyday wear. 'Even when you don't need a waterproof layer, you just kind of want to stay fresh. Maybe you might be ovulating, maybe it's a hot day, and so it's just got one layer of absorbency, but they're normal underwear. 'This is the product I've always wanted and surely I'm not the only one. My whole life, I feel like I've just been really annoyed with the lingerie industry,' she laughs. 'It's just so uncomfortable and historically it's really not been about the wearer, it's been about the male gaze. 'And I just want to make something that is truly for us. It's for the wearer, it's comfortable. They look beautiful, so you feel nice.' The products are made ethically in Sri Lanka from OEKO-TEX and GOTS certified fabrics, something that was an 'important' part of the process for Taylor. 'I think that every business should be operating like this, and I don't think that we deserve a medal. It just should be standard, this is how we operate.' As for the designs themselves, Taylor says she's drawn inspiration from her home country of Aotearoa, while her pattern-maker is fellow New Zealander Ella Sarjant. 'There's a real New Zealand aesthetic... with Wicks there's an understated elegance, and I feel like I've pulled that from the New Zealand ethos,' she says. 'Just the Kiwi way of being is going to inevitably inform my design and then that refined practicality of us Kiwis comes through.' It's early days for the brand, but Taylor says the feedback from customers so far has been 'humbling'. 'It's been really, really nice – everyone's talking about the soft fabric, and the people 30-plus are saying, 'Thank you for creating something that speaks to us'.' What's next for Wicks? 'Continuously evolving, slow, deliberate growth. I'd love to try out fabric innovations as well. Apparently, mushroom fabric is a thing – I'd love to try that. I don't know if it's absorbent,' she notes. 'There's another Kiwi thing, the innovation. That's us.' From New Zealand designers to sustainable clothing. Wellington's Fashion Darlings Kowtow On Their Blueprint For The Future. Change is afoot for one of New Zealand's most innovative fashion labels. Fast Fashion Is Trying An Earth-Friendly Makeover. Is It Real? Here's how to avoid getting fooled by greenwashing. Designer Vince Ropitini Reasserts The Art Of Passive Resistance. The designer speaks about threading histories of protest together and the influence of contemporary Māori art.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
The Coventry care home bringing children and elderly people together
As Row, Row, Row Your Boat is sung at this care home and children play with the elderly residents, staff say both age groups are feeling the are taking part in the weekly Grandfriends playgroup at the Avalon Court Care Home in Tile Hill, Coventry, set up by childminder Lisa and toddlers join the residents for some fun and one of them, Sue Queen, 82, says they love the visits from the youngsters."I think we're often ignored when you get to our age and it's lovely to come here where we're part of it," she said. Launched in 2017, Ms Taylor said she was inspired by the effects the children she works with had on her own grandparents."Even with advanced dementia, they could still sing nursery rhymes, because it's stored differently in our brain and you've got the emotional connection," she pitched the idea to several care homes in the city, Avalon Court picked it up. At their latest playgroup, eight-year-old Rosie helps 86-year-old Dennis Oliver remember the actions to Incy Wincy is one of the children who come back to visit in the school holidays, even when they are too old to take part in first met when Rosie was in preschool."I enjoyed coming because we did all these fun activities," she said."We sang songs and I got to see the grandfriends.""She tapped me on the shoulder and I didn't recognise her," added Mr Oliver. "She's so grown up." Nearby Mrs Queen and Mary Cliffe, 80, sing Row, Row, Row Your Boat and hold hands with their young both said they loved the visits, especially as their own families did not live close to them."I think what happens is they walk into this room," said Ms Cliffe. "[And they think] 'Oh yes, I know where I am, I can start running now'." Home manager Rachael Thorpe said she loved seeing new relationships being formed."To actually see the children going up to the residents and seeing that resident and child become alive, it's just such a heartwarming experience," she explained. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Forbes
03-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Why Requiring Placebo-Controlled Trials For New Vaccines Could Harm Americans
HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA - AUGUST 07: Lisa Taylor receives a COVID-19 vaccination from RN Jose Muniz as ... More she takes part in a vaccine study at Research Centers of America on August 07, 2020 in Hollywood, Florida. (Photo by) Vaccines, a polarizing issue for many Americans, will trigger more alarms in the near future with a new requirement for their future development and distribution. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Trump administration plan to require all new vaccines to be tested against an inert substance in placebo-controlled trials before they are widely distributed to the public. While the move may be very well-intended and will enhance transparency to the American public, there could be many unintended or intended consequences that could harm millions of Americans. Here's how. Andrew Nixon, a spokesman for Robert Kennedy Jr., said 'except for the COVID vaccine, none of the vaccines on the CDC's childhood recommended schedule was tested against an inert placebo, meaning we know very little about the actual risk profiles of these products.' This, in fact, is not true and is part of the basis for this new requirement for vaccine testing. As an example, several placebo-controlled trials have been performed testing the efficacy and side-effect profile for the MMR vaccine that combats measles, mumps and rubella. A study published back in 1966 in Pediatrics compared the MMR vaccine with placebo among more than 4,700 children. In the study, measles was diagnosed in 504 children, 430 of whom were in the placebo group. More recently just last year in The Lancet, a placebo-controlled trial was performed in over 6,500 5-7 month old infants and was found to be safe, without any severe adverse events related to the vaccine itself. The basis for this new policy on vaccine testing is based in part on vaccine misinformation. Kennedy himself has a history of promoting vaccine misinformation, having repeatedly claimed vaccines cause autism, an assertion that has been widely debunked by science and data. This type of rhetoric will undoubtedly contribute to public skepticism on vaccines and undermine confidence in vaccine programs in America. Vaccine hesitancy is already on the rise and has contributed significantly to the nearly 900 cases of measles this year alone, mostly in unvaccinated individuals. Measles infections are entirely preventable with vaccines and one shot offers 93% protection against the virus, while two shots offer 97% protection. Instead of promoting MMR vaccine usage with clear messaging to the general public, the Trump administration casts doubts on vaccines asserting that childhood vaccines have not been thoroughly tested. This will only fuel vaccine hesitancy. This will harm and continue to harm Americans, who are already suffering from the measles outbreak because parents refuse to vaccinate their children. Imagine giving some Americans a vaccine that is known to prevent illness and death, and withholding it from other Americans when a deadly disease is circulating in the environment. This is precisely what could happen in the near future with future iterations of the COVID vaccine. The updated COVID vaccines could be considered a 'new' vaccine because it is updated yearly to match the strains that are circulating at the time of introduction. If the COVID vaccine needs to be tested in placebo-controlled trials, some Americans in the placebo group would be deprived of receiving an already well-tested vaccine that has been shown to save lives. Modest estimates show that the COVID vaccine prevented more than 14 million deaths. Withholding a life-saving vaccine would be unethical and would do more harm than good. The type of testing that the HHS is proposing for vaccines should only be done when no effective vaccine is available or none has ever been tested. Testing a critical life-saving COVID vaccine could delay availability of the vaccine for people that need it most. Testing requires time, sometimes months to years to ensure all data is collected and side-effect profiles are reviewed. If that is the case, rolling out a vaccine like the COVID vaccine could be delayed, which would be a devastating problem if that occurred during peak season in the late fall and winter for the over 22 million Americans with weakened immune systems that need it. Those with weakened immune systems cannot adequately mount an appropriate immune response when exposed to different diseases. Without the vaccine, these 22 million Americans could get sick, hospitalized and even die. The COVID-19 virus is still very much a threat. As an example, during the week of April 19, 183 Americans died from COVID. Although the Trump administration may have good intentions in testing new vaccines for greater safety and transparency, the harm done by unintended consequences could be devastating. I am reminded of a famous saying of the Prophet Muhammad, the last prophet in the Islamic religion, who states, 'indeed actions are judged by intentions.' Intentions are only part of the equation, the rest are actions, and actions speak louder than words.
Business Wire
21-04-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Blackhawk Network (BHN) and Monadnock Paper Mills Partner to Drive Sustainable Innovation in the Global Gift Card Market
PLEASANTON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dedicated to leading sustainability efforts within the industry through innovation and collaboration, global branded payments leader Blackhawk Network (BHN) has partnered with Monadnock Paper Mills to introduce Renovo, a new sustainable, fiber-based gift card substrate that brings a wealth of differentiated features to the global gift card market. A more eco-friendly alternative to PVC, Renovo not only leads the market with its uncompromising breadth of sustainability features, but it also introduces a new level of card resilience and manufacturing compatibility through its unique 30pt thickness and proprietary treatments. Already certified for use at several of the largest card manufacturers in North America, Renovo will be rolled out globally later this year. Just over two years after formally announcing its public-facing initiatives to create a more sustainable future for the gift card industry, BHN is proud to announce that it has exceeded its goal to convert at least 75% of its globally distributed physical gift cards to fiber-based substrates by the end of 2024, with a current conversion rate of 85%. 'For years, BHN has actively pursued opportunities to improve sustainability efforts in our industry,' said Cara Renfroe, SVP Global Operations, BHN. 'With this initiative, we aimed to raise the bar, taking gift card materials to the next level and we succeeded in creating a best-in-class substrate. Renovo leads other alternatives from a sustainability standpoint and also offers the most durable and versatile eco-friendly product on the market today. We could not be more excited about Renovo and the amazing partnership we have built with Monadnock.' Renovo offers many unique benefits: 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Fiber: Made with Forest Stewardship Council ® (FSC) certified materials, demonstrating a commitment to responsible sourcing and environmental stewardship Manufactured Carbon Neutral: Manufactured carbon neutral with verified emission reductions (VERS) certified under the GHG Clean Projects Protocol Recyclable: Third-party verified as recyclable, designed for easy disposal in curbside mixed recycling bins Multi-Platform Coating for Printing Versatility: Features a unique coating optimized for use on a variety of printing technologies—including HP Indigo 35,000, Datacard ® MX8100™ Card Issuance Systems, Flexographic, and Offset Printing—offering exceptional adaptability for diverse production needs Seamless Transition from Plastic: Provides the most rigid, water and moisture-resistant, versatile 30 pt. paper gift card substrate in the market, making it an ideal replacement for traditional plastic gift cards without compromising quality or performance. 'Renovo showcases our commitment to environmentally responsible solutions that make a real impact,' said Lisa Taylor, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Monadnock Paper Mills. 'At Monadnock, we are committed to creating products that help our partners meet their environmental goals without compromising on quality or performance, and this partnership exemplifies that effort.' To learn more, please visit About Blackhawk Network Today, through BHN's single global platform, businesses of all kinds can tap into the world's largest network of branded payment solutions. BHN helps businesses grow revenue, increase loyalty, motivate and reward their teams, disburse funds and engage consumers. Branded payment solutions include the issuance and distribution of gift cards, eGifts, corporate payouts and rewards, along with the technology to deliver these products in seamless, integrated ways. BHN's network spans the globe with more than 400,000 consumer touchpoints. Learn more at About Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc. Founded in 1819 and based in Bennington, NH, Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc., works with the world's leading brands to craft and customize environmentally responsible performance papers for commercial printing, packaging, and technical applications. Monadnock is committed to responsible environmental stewardship and maintains that fiber-based alternatives to plastic can be cost-efficient, environmentally sensitive, and beautiful. For more information about Monadnock Paper Mills, go to or call customer service at (800) 221-2159. FSC® C018866 – The mark of responsible forestry.
