*edit* We no longer carry Cherry Bombin’ Wear products. We believe in science and vaccines.
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One of our core values at Lotus Blooms is to source top-notch, body-safe products from small businesses that are sustainable, politically progressive, LGBTQIA-inclusive, and queer- or woman-owned. Meet one of our newest partners, Cherry Bombin’ Wear! Owner and founder Anzela Tsimahidis (pronouns she/her/herz) crafts beautiful sex and kink gear that’s not just hot, it’s also vegan and environmentally-conscious– everything is made from upcycled rubber tire inner tubes. We currently carry their flogger and cuffs, but look for more products soon.
We chatted with Anzela to find out more about her radical, mission-driven brand, Cherry Bombin’ Wear’s passions and values, and how it all came about. It’s a story of overcoming self-limitations, navigating male-dominated spaces as a queer feminist, and maintaining ethics in a capitalist industry. If you’re a socially responsible shopper who likes to know who you’re buying from, you’re going to feel great about getting Anzela’s gear after you read what she has to say.
First off, tell us about CherryBombin’ Wear and what makes it so unique?
We are a small womxn-owned feminist business based out of Phoenix, Arizona. We make sustainable, vegan sex and kink gear, with all of our products handmade from upcycled rubber tire tubes.
Tell us a little bit about yourself– who’s the person behind the brand?
I’m Anzela Tsimahidis (pronouns she/her/herz), the founder and owner. I grew up in New York in the 90’s, then moved to Arizona for college in 1997. I graduated Arizona State University with a womxn and gender studies degree in 2002 and moved to San Francisco, where I found my inspiration. I moved back to Phoenix and started Cherry Bombin’ wear in 2007. I’m a vegan/vegetarian and live an organic natural hippie punk artsy un-mom lifestyle, and I’ve been a cyclist for over 20 years. I identify as a queer omnisexual feminist.
What’s your favorite part of being in this industry?
Making and offering items that contribute to the wealth of sexuality and free love as their main purpose. In short, ORGASMS. I contribute to the making of orgasms!
Where did the name of the company come from?
I came up with Cherry Bombin’ when I was a senior in high school. I remember drawing in a sketchbook, envisioning some type of fashion design and body adornments similar to cage bras. My original logo was a cherry bomb with the wick spelling out Cherry Bombin’ in a cursive-type font. The wick was lit with a fire at the end of the “Bombin'”.
We’d love to hear the story of how you got into this industry.
I started Cherry Bombin’ wear in 2007 after making my first hand-sewn wallet. I bought a machine and started making wallets, wrist cuffs, belts, and messenger bags, and then selling them at art shows and markets. Eventually I opened a storefront and studio. I was even the local “green” artist for Whole Foods Market!
One day in I think 2010, I made wrist restraints, just randomly. That vision was everything, but I never thought it could be real. At that moment, I dreamed I would sell them to Good Vibrations and affiliate myself with feminist queer sexual health-positive businesses. The idea was so dreamy to me. Soon after, I was in touch with the buyer at Good Vibrations and she was in love. Then she asked me if I would design a strap-on harness! I was beyond thrilled. I designed it, she prototyped and refined it and began selling it. Although I’ve been selling my items to Good Vibrations for many years now, I kept it underground mainly because the sex industry was (and still mostly is) male chauvinistic and cismale-focused while sexually exploiting womxn’s bodies– I didn’t want anything to do with that. It’s actually a pretty intimidating atmosphere, plus I was worried someone could potentially do something shitty with one of my items if I went “too” mainstream.
I was raised in a fear-based home environment (in addition to this fear-based cultural environment) which had only limited my thinking in terms of my ability and growth, and led me to shut out many of my desires in life. It wasn’t until just last year when I was talking to my mentor, that she opened up a whole new vision for me and my life. Instead of being fearful and limiting my business, I decided to put myself out there to grow and to show that feminists can take up space in this industry too– and that we can even do it better, with higher standards, ethics and values. So when Amazon bought out my big-name account, Whole Foods Market, last year, I took that as my cue to completely reshape and refocus my brand to move more fully into this growing world of feminist sex positive pleasure. (What is this niche of our industry called anyway? Is there a name? We need one!) Plus, I realized that regardless of what of I was doing, I would never be able to control what kind of people get their hands on my products. I had to look for the right target market and let go of it from there.
Cherry Bombin’ Wear’s Dualie restraint cuffs
What’s the difference in function between your products and traditional leather products?
The main difference is that the rubber is super easy to clean without compromising the material. It also provides a slight give or stretch that feels good with the movements of the body, strong but soft against the skin without any bulkiness. I feel like too many bondage options are either bulky and stiff, or lightweight but uncomfortable and cheaply made.
You dedicate part of your annual profits to 4 different non-profits. Why is that important to you?
This defines everything surrounding the growth of my brand. Donating to organizations that represent the ethics and values of my company is essential to my mission and to feeling whole at the end of each day. Womxn’s empowerment and LGBTQIA equality are my top priority here, mainly because these are 2 groups that fight continuous oppression and face violence every day. Farm animals and the environment also face cruelty, violence, and destruction, so together these are the 4 facets of my brand. Community outreach is essential for support in any cause, but so is financial security. Living in a money-focused society and culture as we all do, financial abundance is a significant need in order to grow and empower our community liberation. For so long, money has been in the hands of the evil patriarchal oppressors. The time is now to get that money ourselves and distribute it appropriately. Our dollar is our vote; who do you want to proactively support in this movement? Most of us have to have jobs, but not everyone has the chance to earn money doing work that can help others. I chose to create a company that is not only my job, but also a reflection of my lifestyle and value system.
What organizations did you choose, and why those?
The organizations I picked to donate this year are, first, Times UP, which promotes womxn’s empowerment by helping those who have been survivors of sexual assault, and victims of harassment and inequality in the workplace.
Then there’s GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network, pronounced “glisten”), an organization that began in 1990 with a focus on ensuring safe and affirming schools for LGBTQ students K-12. Every day GLSEN works to ensure that LGBTQ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment.
Next is the Humane Society, which prioritizes farm animal welfare in the USA because animals raised for meat, eggs and milk represent more than 95 percent of the animals killed by humans. With factory farming on the rise, these animals are treated with few to no ethical humane standards.
Finally, there’s the Plastic Bank, which is globally recognized as one of the most important solutions to stop the buildup of ocean plastic. It takes plastic collected by communities and turns it into their local currency. This not only help keeps the oceans clean, it creates jobs for the community. These organizations are my choice for this year, but I will most likely change the groups every year.
What else do you want people to know about your brand/company?
Oh goodness…I’m a wuss when it comes to social media and I love fan mail! I’m also going to make my other not so ex(xx)citing items available for purchase online within the next year, including wallets, cuffs, and bow ties. I do also like to make custom designs & orders.
Cherry Bombin’ Wear’s Tail’d Rubber Flogger
We’re so grateful to Anzela for taking the time to tell us all about Cherry Bombin’ Wear! Drop by the store to check out these one-of-a-kind pieces in person and discover why Cherry Bombin’ is blowing our minds. And check back soon– we’ll have more great interviews with other progressive, cool new suppliers in the weeks to come.
