Anna

“Unlike sex toys, clean up is universal.”

Most adult products are used before or during sex, but there are only few that are called into action after the deed is done. The products of company AnnaRae, however, do fall into this category: towels designed specifically for cleaning up after sex. We were curious to learn more about the idea that spawned these products, and to find out what makes them so suitable for this purpose, so we asked Anna, the founder of AnnaRae, for an interview.


AnnaRae is a young startup company in the erotic market that just released its first product – a special towel for cleanup after sex. Before we talk more about your innovation, could you tell us a bit more about yourself?
Anna: “Do whatever brings you to life, then: follow your own fascinations, obsessions, and compulsions. Trust them. Create whatever causes a revolution in your heart.” Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. AnnaRae is part of my life, my fascination, and my joy. I must give praise to my AnnaRae team; we are a fun-loving, sexy bunch over at AnnaRae; they share my enthusiasm, collaborate on ideas, and through this business we’ve become our own unique family.

On a personal level, I relish learning new tricks or trying my hands at new projects. Things like building our 7’ dining room table, taking Aerial silk/belly dance classes, acquiring a new tattoo, baking and indulging my sweet tooth, and cycling or exploring in Europe, all nourish my soul and feed my yearning for daring adventure.

How did you come up with the idea for the Aftercare Towels?
I’ve been married to my High School sweetheart for 12 years, and we kept special monogrammed hand towels on hand for clean up after sex. In December of 2015, friends shared their experience of helping with a move and discovering wads of rags and Kleenex under the master bed. We lamented the lack of quality clean up products on the market. The more we discussed the problem, the more we realised, why not create something ourselves? Ideas began to flow and take shape so that by February 2017, I launched AnnaRae first with the Companion towel and then releasing the Cuddle Bean that Fall.

The Cumpanion Towels and Cuddle Beans have a characteristic, rounded shaped

What makes your towels especially suited for their purpose and why doesn’t a normal towel or wipe do the trick?
The dual plush microfiber fabric that we have chosen for the Cumpanion and Cuddle Bean towels is made from a polyester/nylon blend of fibers that are 1/5 the diameter of the average high-quality cotton fiber. This much smaller fiber size produces a fabric that is not only much softer on the skin than any cotton fabric but also has the super-absorbent qualities that microfiber fabrics are renowned for.

Could you tell us a bit more about the design and the characteristics of the product? How exactly does it look and feel and why did you opt for these properties?
Our microfiber towels are made from a dual plush fabric so soft it bears a resemblance to kitten fur; we even use our towels in sensory play. We went for our signature oval shape partly because we wanted a unique design, and partly because it’s pleasant to handle and more ergonomic. The pocket on the Cumpanion is designed to allow the wetted portion of the towel to be folded up inside neatly. It also can be used as a buffer for lovers who like wand style massagers but need to soften the intensity of the vibes.

Right now, the Aftercare Towels are available in the variants “Cuddle Bean” and “Cumpanion”. How do they and their use cases differ from each other?
The main difference in the two products is size: our medium towel, the Cumpanion, is hand towel size (15” x 24”), large enough to lay horizontally under the hips to add protection to surfaces, and the Cumpanion features a reversible pocket on one end. It is especially effective for our female customers who squirt, being large enough to accommodate all but the more exuberant squirters!

Our Cuddle Bean is smaller in size (8″ x 13″), similar to a washcloth. After I masturbate, I don’t always need the full length the Cumpanion provides for clean up. The Cuddle Bean’s design takes up less room which is perfect when traveling, so you don’t have to resort to hotel cotton towels for sex clean up.

Even though the Aftercare Towels can be used by everybody after sex, do you have a certain target audience in mind, that might find them especially appealing?
Unlike sex toys that can be geared to specific audiences, clean up is universal. Whether you play alone, with a partner(s), engaged in a kink scene, or giving a massage/back rub, there is some type of clean-up involved. Being as sex-positive as we can possibly be is extremely important to us, so we have tried to be very inclusive: LGBTQIA+, binary, monogamous, polyamorous… we believe it’s important to promote love and healthy sexuality to EVERYONE!

Will we see additional forms and sizes in the future?
Yes, you will! Our next planned product, the Cumforter, is going to be throw blanket size and fluid proof. The idea is to offer the same plushness of microfiber but the added protection for an entire bed or sofa during liquid play or more enthusiastic squirting activity! The Cumforter is still in the early stages of development so we do not have a product release date at this time.

Cumpanion Towel
Their special texture makes the AnnaRae towels particularly soft

You started selling the Aftercare Towels not too long ago. How happy are you with the start of your business so far?
We’re very pleased! One of our focuses has been to build our customer base through social media, and today we have an incredibly supportive community consisting of customers, fellow sex-positive business owners, bloggers/product reviewers, and friends. We are ecstatic at the prospect of attending a number of sex-positive events and expos, including The Lone Star Spanking Party in Houston, TX which will be our first vending event!

Are you working together with distributors or planning to do so? Where could European retailers buy your products if they’d like to sell them in their stores?
Split Peaches and Entice Me are two of our US-based distributors. The tricky part for us is keeping our low pricing for customers but still being able to partner with other businesses. We are not yet able to successfully collaborate with UK distributors simply because of the overwhelming customs fees. I’m hoping to find a solution soon because we have a number of great friends with businesses in the UK who would like to work with us.

What are your plans for the future of AnnaRae and the Cumpanion towels? Are you planning to continue along the line of after sex care products?
Our Cumforter is still a work in progress; I want to make sure we have a product I love before releasing it to customers. I am eager to continue collaborating with other sex-positive businesses, and I look forward to supporting each other as we work to bring positivity and quality products to our customers.