*This is a collaborative post.


Unfortunately, women didn't sign up to have periods; they just came as part of the package. There were no T&Cs; it was just a mandatory clause in our contract. I started my period at age 14. In primary school, girls were given a talk about sanitary products. But nothing about the trials and tribulations a period would bring every month for every woman. Nobody talked to us about hormones or told us what was normal and/or abnormal. 

A pair of lilac period pants, pantyliners and a pink menstrual cup.


20 years ago, periods/menstruation cycles were deemed a taboo subject to discuss openly. Thanks to social media, I see many TikToks of women or even GPs discussing what is normal and abnormal when it comes to your menstrual cycle. Women make funny and relatable videos of what being on your period is like. This shows how less of a taboo subject menstruation is nowadays. 

However, one big question is this - is menstruation being presented badly in the media?


Representation really does matter when it comes to menstruation. Even today, I still see menstruation being portrayed negatively. Sometimes it is portrayed as something that doesn't need to be talked about. There seems to be a strong emphasis on shame and secrecy - like it needs to be hidden away because it's a burden for others to know about. I do think that sometimes the media portrays women as being emotionally unstable or irrational during their menstrual cycle. Obviously, hormones do have their part to play, but some forget that men have hormones too, not just women.

How are we still using euphemisms to describe a woman's menstrual cycle?

When people refer to a woman's period as their "time of the month" - that really grates on me. Why are we still living in a society that refers to a woman's menstrual cycle by that phrase? 

A pair of lilac period pants, pantyliners and a pink menstrual cup.


Sometimes advertising isn't representative

I think we've all seen the menstrual product adverts on TV, the ones where they use blue liquid rather than red to present how much the pad or period pants can hold. It kind of contributes to the idea that periods should be hidden. 

Now, not all media outlets portray menstruation badly.

TV programmes i.e. soap operas have played out storylines in the past about menstruation-related subjects e.g. menopause, endometriosis, PMDD etc. You find that soap operas and dramas really portray this side of things well. 

Magazine shows like This Morning does weekly phone-ins with a GP about your ailments. Also, they may do a special item about periods/menstruation to make some women feel less alone with their period predicaments. 

TV shows doing stuff like this disprove stereotypes, and allow others to learn and begin conversations.

A pair of lilac period pants, pantyliners and a pink menstrual cup.


When it comes down to it, representation is what truly matters.

Increasing visibility, showing diversity and showing fair representation in the media can normalise something that women experience for half of their lives. 

Is Menstruation Being Presented Badly in the Media? Let's Discuss.

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*This SINBONO post contains affiliate links. Please see the disclaimer at the end for more details.


With fashion and accessory brands, I like to know if the brand is practicing sustainability with their materials, workers, packaging etc. Recently, I came across an accessory brand that practices sustainability to the core - SINBONO. 

The SINBONO Alice Top Handle Crossbody Bag in black.

Who is SINBONO?

SINBONO is a bag brand based in New York. The bags that the brand creates are sustainable, functional and chic. SINBONO have a wide range of bags to choose from and all different sizes and colours.

Are SINBONO a sustainable brand?

SINBONO is committed to operating sustainably on every level. Not only do they use vegan leather to make their bags, but they responsibly recycle plastic bottles into polyester. This in turn breaks down the single-use plastic bottles into pellets and uses the recycled material to make their bags. 

As well as using recycled plastics, SINBONO use reclaimed apple skins. Apple Skins is a bio-based alternative that results in a versatile, robust and affordable product that is soft to the touch. Apple Skins also referred to as Apple leather, is UV-resistant, hypoallergenic and fully bio-degradable. 


SINBONO is also PETA-approved. 

What bag from SINBONO do you have?

The brand sent me the *Alice Top Handle Crossbody Bag in black. I do believe in love at first sight, especially when it comes to bags like this one! It's that perfect black bag, it may not be ideal for daywear but it'e perfect for an evening out! I love how the top handle is adjustable and it also comes with a gold chain you would rather wear it over your shoulder like a mini crossbody. 

The SINBONO Alice Top Handle Crossbody bag in black.

My review on SINBONO and my crossbody bag:

Material

The material is durable and the vegan leather feels so luxurious to the touch. It actually feels and looks more expensive than it actually is! There's also a lovely shine on the leather, which I love. The material is also easy to keep clean and wipe down when needed to. I really cannot fault the quality of the material used for this bag.

The design

I love the design of this bag in particular. It's so chic and as I said, I love how you can wear like a crossbody or use it as a top handle bag. It may be slightly small, but it can fit the essentials in there like a card holder, phone and keys. I can also fit my handwash in there as well as my pill holder, which is a bonus. The bag has a magnetic closure, so there's no faffing with any zips! 

The SINBONO Alice Top Handle Crossbody Bag in black.


The bottom of the bag is sturdy and has a good structure to it. So it keeps your items in your bag in one place and nothing will start flying around in there!

The SINBONO Alice Top Handle Crossbody Bag in black.

Ranges of bags and colours

SINBONO has a wide range of different collections and different colours for each bag collection. There are a few bags I've added to my wishlist as they'd be perfect for everyday wear! They include -




I'm sure you will find a bag that you'll love!

Pricing

Prices range from £40-£85 for bags on SINBONO. However, you are definitely paying for good quality and for me, it's worth the money.

Packaging

The bag came in a beautiful recyclable box. The bag also comes with a dust bag to keep it protected.

What is your overall verdict on SINBONO?

I am really impressed with SINBONO and their sustainability practices and the fact they are a vegan brand and are PETA-approved. 

The quality of the bag I have has also impressed me. It's so durable, chic, stylish and is also versatile. I have already used it with multiple outfits, so I know it's a bag I will keep for a long time. 

If you're looking for a vegan, stylish bag made out of sustainably-friendly materials, look no further than SINBONO!

The SINBONO Alice Top Handle Crossbody Bag in black.

Fancy a discount code? 

Use the code LUCYMARYTAYLOR to get 22% off any bag from SINBONO's website! Tap/click this *link to have a browse now!

I'd love to know your thoughts on this review!


*This post contains affiliate links. They are marked with an asterisk (*). This collaboration is part of an affiliate collaboration. All views are my own. For more information, please read my disclaimer. Thank you for your support!

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