Could Your Wardrobe Be Affecting Your Hormones?

Fourteen years of chronic period pain that no one could resolve led TryKind founder Alana to stop searching for answers at the pharmacy and begin listening to her body's internal rhythm. A search that took her across the world to the heart of Kerala, India, where she unearthed the Ayurvastra: an ancient practice of healing through plant-dyed textiles.

Today, her incredible journey guides TryKind, a brand proving that what we wear can be just as influential to our health as what we eat. 

Alana kindly took the time to discuss stepping away from 'fast-fashion' culture and the future of hormone-friendly fashion.

Alana, last time we spoke, you shared the story of how TryKind began, from backpacking in India to discovering Ayurvastra dyeing. How does that journey continue to guide your values, especially around women’s health and wellbeing now?

Everything I have learnt about Ayurveda, women’s health, self-care, and love is rooted in that journey. We are so lucky to return to Kerala every year to develop new products, and it helps inspire me, grounds me back in the practice of slow and conscious living, but also teaches me more and more about Ayurveda, which is something so important to TryKind as a brand.

That experience is literally the compass for TryKind. It taught me to listen to how materials feel on the body, and to prioritize women’s wellbeing in ways that go far beyond aesthetics. It’s the reason why we choose plant-based ayurvedic dyes, gentle fibres, and small-batch processes even when it isn’t as efficient or profitable. It’s why we think about hormones, sensitive skin, and the daily stress women carry. And it’s why we design with softness, comfort, and restoration in mind.

The heart of the original journey - curiosity, respect for ancient practices, and a belief that what touches our skin should support our health - still shapes every decision we make today.

How can a ‘slow living’ mindset help women honour their body’s natural rhythm, especially during the more challenging parts of their cycle?

TryKind is rooted in kindness - our 3 core values are humankind, earthkind and creaturekind. 

I think we often forget to be kind to ourselves. As women in particular, we tend to prioritize our partners, kids, or friends, or work, or whatever else, because we are naturally giving or have been taught in our society that this is our role. Part of why TryKind is special is that our products are not just kind to the garment workers or the planet or animals by nourishing their habitats. No, we are also kind to the women who are buying the product as each and every piece nourishes their body too. It is a constant reminder that self-care can be omnipresent in absolutely every part of your life.

Slow living isn’t just about relaxing or doing less, which is super important too, but it is more about listening to your body and finding moments of peace in everyday life. All our messaging is interwoven with this idea of returning to our roots, and of course, all our herbs are grown by indigenous ‘adivasi’ people in Kerala who really live in tune with nature and their bodies. It is about decolonizing our minds from the idea that being a successful woman means running around ticking everything off a list, and more about what feels good for you – the antithesis of capitalistic values.

Our message is clear: “Be kind to yourself and give yourself space to find that connection to what you truly need” - then everything else will fall into place. Having nourishing, natural clothes is just a tiny act of self-care in a larger piece of the puzzle of caring for yourself. 

Many women don’t fully understand their cycle. What are the key phases of the menstrual cycle, and what typically happens in the body during each phase?

Your menstrual cycle is more than just a biological process - it’s a natural rhythm that connects you to your body’s flow. In India, they call it the moon cycle because we are literally linked to the moon and the tides - how amazing!

Each phase has its own energy: the start of your period is a time to rest and reflect, like a mini reset. As you move into the phase where your egg matures, you may feel a gentle surge of creativity, focus, or motivation - your body quietly preparing for new possibilities. Ovulation brings an outward, vibrant energy, a peak of vitality and connection. Then, in the luteal phase, your body invites introspection, nurturing, and self-care, as it settles into a quieter, reflective rhythm.

Everyone experiences these cycles differently, and learning to tune into your own body’s signals can be a powerful tool for wellness, self-awareness, and honoring your natural flow.

All of our dyes have different benefits, and some are better at different times of the month. For example, we recommend you wear our indigo flower blend during menstruation because it is cooling and calming, but the sappan bark is better during ovulation because it gives skin a natural glow and boosts confidence. 

What simple tools or resources would you recommend for anyone wanting to build an understanding of cycle literacy?

Quite simply, try to connect with your body and self as much as possible!

Ultimately, this looks different for every woman, but a few things that have helped me personally are journaling, yoga, meditation, and also learning more about plant medicines like ayurveda.

I used to have awful period cramps, and for over 14 years, no one could help me. They put me on strong painkillers and the pill, and it literally just made me throw up constantly. Absolutely terrible. So I really read up about my symptoms through ayurveda and when I was in Kerala, I went to a Government run ayurveda hospital where they told me I need to cool down and sort out digestive problems, which are partly to blame for cramps.

For me, while it didn't solve everything immediately, it led me toward incorporating cacao into my routine. It’s naturally high in magnesium and aids my digestion, and now I find I have almost no pain at all. It did take me 14 years to figure it out, and I hope other women can be quicker, but really understanding your body rather than just following the generalized guide to periods is something that is so underrated.

A lot of women feel tired or low in mood before and during their period. What are a couple of simple mindset shifts or nutritional tips that can help support them during these phases?

Rest - I think don’t fight against it! Try to rest more, and if that isn’t an option, try to do the tasks that are a little less intense. Find 5 minutes to sit still in nature and just breathe. Find the connection. Listen to your body because she knows best, even if that is saying eat carby foods. You can indulge in that a little because it is okay to gain weight or look ‘unattractive’ if that is the break your body is craving.

Aside from clothing, what are some holistic practices you believe are underrated for menstrual or hormonal health?

Massage is super underrated and really commonplace in Eastern practices like TCM and Ayurveda. In fact, right after childbirth in ayurveda women go for Prasava Raksha Chikithsa, which is traditionally done daily for 7-40 days after childbirth, depending on family custom and regional practice. They use oils like sesame-based oil blends like Dhanwantharam Thailam, known in Ayurveda for supporting recovery and calming the nervous system. There is proof it has minimized postnatal depression dramatically.

Even if you can’t afford to get massages daily, your partner or friends can learn some basic massage through YouTube or online. There are different partner yoga stretches which can release period cramps or TCM foot pressure points that minimize stress, too.

How do you see the future of “wellness clothing” developing? And where does TryKind fit into that evolution?

Ultimately, I believe it should be mainstream knowledge that what we wear can impact our health. Through my research, it concerns me that synthetic fabrics and certain dyes are so common, despite research linking them to hormonal disruptions. With ‘sustainable’ brands even using recycled polyester which I feel is almost just as bad.

I hope that brands like TryKind can educate women and totally disrupt this pattern of consuming fast fashion to a more wellness, holistic way of dressing.