Khoa Lê and Kim Levan are childhood friends. Both of Vietnamese origin, they grew up in families where sexuality and even affection were almost taboo. Today’s 30s are helping others thrive “in bed” through their new business Afterglo.
With the New Yorker (of Canadian origin) Louise Schultz, the Montreal tandem embarked on this improbable adventure with real body lost. Or body found, rather. Because this is precisely the mission of the new kind of virtual “erotic shop”: to make people want to explore and discover each other, alone, as a couple, in a trio. Geometry does not matter. It’s the intention that counts: daring to talk more about sexuality, as series like Sex Education and Without an appointment.
A few months before the pandemic, Kim and Louise, who had known each other in the lingerie industry in which they had worked for a long time, began to think about a business project. “We had been thinking for a long time that we would go into business together one day,” says Kim. Then the pandemic arrived and we had a lot of time to think! As we both came from a background where there is already a lot of intimacy between the salesperson and the customer, the idea was born to help people feel even better about their bodies. We said to ourselves: why not sex objects? ”
Arrives Khoa, whom Kim seeks as a potential partner in the adventure. He lets himself be tempted. “During the pandemic, we all had to think a little about loneliness or the couple, touch and its absence, meetings, etc. Recalls the one who earns his living as a director and who is co-owner of the restaurant Denise.
The Afterglo platform is therefore designed as a tool for well-being and not as a disembodied erotic online store. Interactions with customers demonstrate this, moreover. Those who send private messages to the company’s Instagram account often have questions that go beyond simple requests for information on a particular object. “Since we’re online, maybe it’s less awkward,” suggests Khoa. It sometimes even happens that Kim, Khoa or Louise direct these people to professionals better equipped than them to answer certain questions.
“Understanding the needs and realities”
Clients sometimes have very specific requests, too. Kim thinks of the client who wanted a double ended dildo for her and her girlfriend, but wished it didn’t look exactly like a penis. “It took a lot of research. It wasn’t easy to find, but we found it. ”
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PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
The Kushi is a clitoral vibrator shaped like a textured shell.
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PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
The Pure Wand (left) is a weighted stainless steel G-spot and P-spot stimulator. The Dalia is a dildo porcelain for the stimulation of G or P points, created by the Montreal-based company Désirable.
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PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
Tonic by Momotaro is a soothing bath oil made from jojoba oil. It can also be used to treat discomfort associated with yeast and bacterial infections or general irritation from sex, clothing or exercise.
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PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
Besides looking like a trio of unicorn horns, Booty Call is a set of three plugs optimized anal for those who are starting their anal exploration.
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PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
With a rounded head specially designed to stimulate the G-spot, the Tennis Coach provides internal and external stimulation.
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PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
Infinity 8 is an 8-shaped cock ring made for use at the base of the penis and testicles. It helps to maintain the erection longer while stimulating the perineum.
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PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
The Flex is a masturbator that creates twisting sensations for people with a penis.
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“For each object we choose, we wonder about the discussion we can have around the thing, reveals Khoa. Each object has a specific use and we try not to have duplicate stuff. There are really a lot of products on the market. For us, the whole issue of inclusion is super important. We are not talking about men or women, but people with vulva and people with penises. We are not a specialized store, but we interact with all kinds of people to better understand the needs and realities of each community, and even each individual. ”
Above all, however, the selected “toys” must be made of safe materials.
There aren’t a lot of regulations in this area because sex toys fall into the curiosity category and sex is still a bit taboo, despite everything. You have to be careful with anything rubber. We put that in his body after all.
Kim levan
Production ethics are also important to Afterglo. “It is not true that we are going to sell products made by exploited people! », Says Khoa. Then there is the aesthetic criterion. “We like beautiful objects”, confirms the director. There are even pretty and discreet Japanese vibrators that could easily be placed as a decoration in a living room! “It’s not intimidating like a dildo 12 inches, ”Khoa laughs.
In short, a gateway for frank and uninhibited discussions on sexuality, this is what Afterglo aims to be, with online content and in social networks, possible events and maybe even a shop, one day. .
“This project is a personal quest for us too,” Kim admits. I thought I was really comfortable in my body, but the research allowed me to explore further. Louise has just arrived in her fifties. Her body is changing a lot, her daughter has gone to college, she has more time to take care of herself and rediscover her sexuality. Afterglo does us all good, ”concludes the co-founder.
Visit Afterglo’s website Visit Afterglo’s Instagram account