Founder Portraits: Nadine Woods

September 12th, 2019

Mayana Genevière is an ethical luxury lingerie line made in Toronto and founded by Nadine Woods. The brand celebrates the different stages of womanhood with a focus on postpartum recovery by providing women with a unique and meaningful experience through undergarments that help them feel like themselves again. Nadine also founded a non-profit organization called Maternal Goddess, dedicated to enriching the emotional, physical and mental wellbeing of women postpartum and beyond. 

What is the problem you wanted to solve and how did starting an intimate apparel brand fit into that? 

Nadine: I saw that no undergarment truly supported postpartum women and their needs–physically and spiritually–as they entered this new phase of their lives, so I created the world’s only true to size bra that women can nurse in without a clasp. We have since received patents in many jurisdictions and have been able to create pieces that are undetectable so woman can truly feel like themselves again. 

What's the significance behind the name of your company?  

Nadine: The first part of our name, “Mayana”, combines both mine and my daughter’s middle names, and that has a strong spiritual meaning. “Genevière” means “woman of the people” in French. I wanted our brand’s name to carry a meaningful message and be reflective of its values. 

Why did you decide to apply to The Social Ventures Zone? 

Nadine: The SVZ’s values resonated with me and I wanted to tap into the coaching network available for members to receive guidance and mentorship. I have been an SVZ member for almost two years and I’ve loved every minute of it! Working around caring and considerate fellow founders who also believe in being socially impactful and profitable is very inspiring.  

What is your favourite part about being a social entrepreneur? 

Nadine: I didn’t realize that what I was doing–treating people well, paying fair wages, making decisions that are best for the environment and the world–made me a social entrepreneur! It just came innately to me. However, this is not as common as I thought. I think we have a lot more work to do, especially in fashion, when it comes to prioritizing social impact over reducing costs. Working with the people who believe in the same values as me and seeing the way my brand has changed postpartum women’s lives makes it all worth it! 

What advice do you have for other women entrepreneurs? 

Nadine: “KEEP GOING!” There will be more obstacles for us, especially women of colour, but you have to keep moving forward!  Ask for help when you need to, and always value collaboration over competition. Support other women even if they are in a similar space, there is enough room for everyone.

What are your plans for Mayana Genevière? 

Nadine: We have some very exciting things in the works! Although we have been growing, it feels like we're just beginning. We are looking forward to changing the narrative on healing postpartum, reducing the stigma of maternal health in all forms, and having a larger impact globally with this mission. 

Learn more about Mayana Genevière. (external link)