Poland’s first ecological sex shop has opened in Łódź, selling recyclable sex toys and eco-leather equipment. The shop’s owner says she was motivated by green consumer trends, and that she hopes the venture will help change attitudes towards sex in Poland.
The shop, named Tango, opened in December. It range includes herb-based aphrodisiacs, massage oils made from guarana and ginseng, natural lubricants, recyclable vibrators, wooden geisha balls, and whips made from eco-leather, reports Gazeta Wyborcza.
Tango’s owner, Elwira Ruta, who previously worked for a large sex shop chain, decided to launch the shop after customers told her that existing sex products have “too many chemicals and plastics.” But she says that “green accessories are hard to come by” from wholesalers.
“It is best to go and get [sex products] in person every time, because many products are described as organic, and then it turns out that they are not natural at all,” Ruta told Gazeta Wyborcza.
Ruta also believes that greener sex products are safer for the health of the person using them. “It is less of a risk to the body,” she says. “There are aphrodisiacs, supplements, invasive gels, which are very strong, full of chemicals.” She also claims that chemical products for erectile dysfunction can be addictive.
Ruta hopes Tango will help change attitudes towards sex in Poland, breaking down taboos and encouraging people to experiment.
“Until a few years ago, it was mainly middle-aged men who visited,” she says. “Now there are more and more women, and younger people are beginning to be predominant.”
Bloomberg looks at how Polish supermodel @anjarubikblog is challenging conservative norms on sex, gender and sexuality in her homeland with an education campaign aimed at young people. Her #sexedpl book has sold 130,000 copies but is banned in some schools https://t.co/qclm3VAfrs
— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) February 8, 2019
Older people who have lost their partners are also turning to erotic products, adds Ruta, whilst many middle-aged couples are seeking to change their routines.
As well as advising couples about what they should try within the store, and answering their questions about sex, she is planning to organise talks with sexologists, therapists, gynaecologists and urologists to encourage wider awareness, once lockdown measures for the COVID-19 pandemic have been lifted.
“I want to promote reliable knowledge, dialogue and love, and not the vulgar vision of sex that we often see on sex-shop sites. I also want to create exhibitions and sell nudes,” says Ruta.
Conservative attitudes towards sex and sex education remain common in Poland. A controversial “anti-paedophilia” bill submitted to the Polish parliament in 2019 and backed by MPs from the ruling party was condemned by experts and opposition parties as effectively criminalising sex education, including prison sentences of up to three years.
Initiatives in recent years have, however, been trying to challenge taboos around sex. In 2017, an online campaign, #sexedpl, was launched by Polish supermodel Anja Rubik with the aim of encouraging Poles to speak more openly, confidently and knowledgeably about sex.
Adaptable, tangible and fun, Domka Spytek believes her kits could improve sex education, be used as therapy, in doctors surgeries, or even to help those who don’t speak the language.https://t.co/ng6E2dpjed
— Offcultured (@offcultured) June 19, 2020
Main image credit: Agencja Gazeta/Tomasz Stańczak
Juliette Bretan is a freelance journalist covering Polish and Eastern European current affairs and culture. Her work has featured on the BBC World Service, and in CityMetric, The Independent, Ozy, New Eastern Europe and Culture.pl.
