Josephine Kwan, the founder of Flow 2 Freedom Apparel is a visionary and self-motivated entrepreneur with over a decade of diverse business experience in commercial real estate, sales, and marketing, negotiations, acquisitions and dispositions, operations, finance, and management.

With this new venture, she is looking to change lives by allowing females to remain sexy and confident especially during the "time of the month". The company has developed a new eco-friendly apparel line to support women to be active irrespective of their periods which may have previously impeded their daily life.

Having a period is a part of most women's lives. Unfortunately, almost all have or know of someone who has experienced the embarrassment of a leak. Flow 2 Freedom surmounts this issue by launching a collection of full-length pants, cropped pants, and shorts that are stylish, protect against any moisture issues, and are even made of recycled materials. The company's patent-pending technology is designed in a way that completely conceals the protective lining of the pants eliminating any bulky panty lines. The design ensures both style and functionality. In fact, each item absorbs at least two tampons worth of liquid and makes use of approximately six plastic bottles. Flow 2 Freedom truly gives back females their confidence to do anything during their periods or when their periods are near, while also helping the environment. A true win-win, that sets the company firmly apart from others in its space.

Josephine, what is the idea behind Flow 2 Freedom Apparel and how did you come up with it?

Sports provide so many benefits and opportunities for females now and for their future. Unfortunately, one in three girls who currently participate in the sport will drop out by late adolescence compared to one in ten boys. Reports say, factors like self-confidence and inclusivity are contributors but I believe one of the biggest issues is periods. When I was 15 years old, I was playing in a high school volleyball tournament when I felt a period leak on the court. When I ran to my male coach to say I had to go to the bathroom, he yelled and shamed me in front of everyone and told me to "get back on the court until the game is done". I never played volleyball again from that day on. I created Flow 2 Freedom Apparel because I never want another girl to ever have to experience that type of embarrassment or trauma. I believe we all have the ability to write our own stories and our periods should not be a barrier to living our best lives and owning our potential. Our line of patent-pending leakproof apparel holds at least two tampons worth of liquid giving you peace of mind so you never have to worry about period leaks and letting your period dictate what you can do or what you wear.

When did it all start and do you have other members in your team?

Flow 2 Freedom Apparel launched online in May of 2018.

How long did it take you to be where you are now?

I spent six months in R&D and went through nine rounds of prototyping to finalize the product and submit it for a patent. It's been a little over two years.

What was the biggest obstacle?

The biggest obstacle when starting out was getting into a field where I had absolutely no experience or connections. I spent 13 years in commercial real estate prior to launching Flow 2 Freedom Apparel. The biggest obstacle now is to continue to get exposure and educate people. Periods are a big taboo topic, everyone knows the importance of the education behind understanding the menstrual cycle but when you have coaches/trainers who are middle-aged white men, they don't want to or feel comfortable discussing the issue.

What are your biggest achievements to date?

Currently in discussions with one of the biggest football (soccer) teams in the UK where their coach and head trainer are completely excited for their players to test the product. We need role models to step up and speak out so younger girls don't feel like they are alone. To date, we have not had any negative feedback on our product, because of my commitment to quality and making sure the product works like it's supposed to were my greatest concerns in designing the collection.

What are the challenges of being an entrepreneur in the niche you are in? How about being a female founder/entrepreneur?

There is so much education needed as sustainable and alternative period products are still very new. People don't really understand how it works or if it works. The garment is also made with all sustainable/eco-friendly materials locally here in Vancouver which also means there is a cost to it. We're living in a space where people say they want sustainability but purchase behavior is still very much price-driven. Being an entrepreneur is challenging, can be emotional at times but more so exhilarating. There is nothing more satisfying when you have someone tell you how much they love what you created and how much their lives have changed. That feeling of being able to help even one person makes every single minute of this roller coaster of a business journey worth it.

What are the projects you are currently working on?

Currently, working on building more exposure and implementing menstrual education as a part of the school curriculum. I recently accepted the Vice-Chair role of the Anti-Racism and Respect Committee for Fast & Female, a non-profit organization started by two former Olympians and moms with the mission to deliver encouraging programs to give all girls and role models the skills to succeed in sport and life. The intent of the committee is to inform and guide the organization's program practices, staff and volunteer education, and key areas of operations, partnerships, and funding with regular anti-racism and respect protocols.

Is the #WomenInTech movement important to you and if yes, why?

The #womenintech movement is not only important it's necessary. Women lead differently, with a more empathetic and compassionate lens. Leading with emotional intelligence is more important than ever at the moment and the time is now.

What is the most important piece of advice you can give to all female founders and female entrepreneurs out there?

If I can do it, anyone can and the most important thing is to get started. Most people are paralyzed by their own thoughts and doubts. One of my favorite quotes is from Tony Robbins "it's not about the resources that you have, it's about how resourceful you can be."

What will be the key trends in the health tech and fem tech industry in the next 5 years and where do you see it heading?

I'm seeing a key trend in AI at the moment. How to get access to more data, quicker to provide greater opportunities in efficiency whether it be in everything from health to sectors within supply chain and logistics.

Who are your 3 inspirational women in healthtech and femtech?

Georgie Bruinvels, Founder of Fitrwoman App

Jeanette Jackson, CEO of Foresight Cleantech Accelerator

Julie Angus, CEO and Co-Founder of OpenOcean Robotics

Find out more about Flow 2 Freedom Apparel here.

Follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

If you wish to connect with Josephine, feel free to do it via LinkedIn.

This interview was conducted by Marija Butkovic, Digital Marketing and PR strategist, founder, and CEO of Women of Wearables. She regularly writes and speaks on topics of wearable tech, fashion tech, IoT, entrepreneurship, and diversity. Follow Marija on Twitter @MarijaButkovic.

WoW Woman in FemTech | Josephine Kwan, founder of Flow 2 Freedom Apparel

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