Women's health company teams with Kathy Ireland Worldwide, Level Brands

TORONTO — Women’s health company Damiva is working with kathy ireland Health & Wellness to expand nationally into Cardinal Health Inc.’s consumer health division, which serves thousands of independent pharmacies.

Damiva said Thursday that its line all-natural feminine hygiene products is now available at all Cardinal distribution centers, as well as at select Target and CVS drugstores. With the expanded distribution, women in need of natural products for vaginal dryness can now buy Damiva products at independent and specialized hospital, gynecology, oncology and other clinic pharmacies across the country, according to the company.

“We’re extremely grateful to Cardinal Health and our buyer, Joseph Rudy, for recognizing the innovation behind Damiva’s products and their importance to women of all ages,” commented Chia Chia Sun, chief executive officer of Damiva, which she founded with president Gardiner Smith. “Working with kathy ireland Worldwide and Level Brands on the Millennial development goal of dramatically changing the landscape of women’s health is a game-changer for women and for Damiva.”

Damiva president Gardiner Smith and chief executive Chia Chia Sun with Kathy Ireland of Kathy Ireland Worldwide.

Mae by Damiva, a vaginal suppository, is formulated for long-term vaginal health. Cleo by Damiva is a labial skin moisturizer that complements Mae. Both products are designed for feminine dryness related to birth control, childbirth, hysterectomy, cancer and menopause.

“All of us at kathy ireland Worldwide and Level Brands congratulate Chia Chia and Damiva on this incredible launch,” stated Kathy Ireland, chair, CEO and chief designer of kathy ireland Worldwide (kiWW) and chairman emeritus and chief brand Strategist of Level Brands Inc.

“This important expansion into Cardinal Health is an important step in fulfilling one of our Millennial development goals, a fierce and fearless commitment to change the landscape for women’s health,” Ireland noted. “We salute Cardinal Health for helping us achieve this goal and for joining us in disrupting the women’s product industry by making these natural and groundbreaking women’s health products available to their customers.”

Damiva products are sold on the feminine hygiene shelf in drugstores and are recommended by physicians, pelvic health experts, and oncologists across North America. The products are optimized for pH and scientifically formulated to be all natural. They contain a handful of natural, plant ingredients instead of hormones, chemical preservatives and alcohols.

Last month, Toronto-based Damiva said it had entered an agreement for brand marketing management and strategic advisory services from Level Brands’ Encore Endeavor One (EE1) and Ireland Men 1 (I’M1) units. And in an associated agreement, Damiva will receive strategic brand management services from kiWW.

“I am so thrilled to join forces with one of today’s top retail licensing business leaders, Kathy Ireland, and the wonderful team at Level Brands,” Sun commented when the agreement was announced. “Kathy, Martin and their incredibly talented team can propel our business forward by expanding our sales, marketing and educational efforts. We look forward to breaking down barriers through this great strategic alliance.”

Including the new distribution through Cardinal Health, Damiva now sells its Mae and Cleo feminine moisturizers at more than 4,000 drug stores and health food stores in Canada and the United States. Damiva said additional pharmacies and health food stores are continually being added to its retail distribution.

“Damiva aligns greatly with our efforts to disrupt the women’s products industry, by breaking down barriers and creating innovative and natural products for women’s lifelong health,” Ireland commented at the time. “Working in concert with Level Brands’ CEO, Martin Sumichrast, I am delighted to welcome Damiva and its great leader, Chia Chia Sun, to the Level Brands and kiWW family,” she added. “Together, we can advance our mission of bringing forth innovative, beneficial products for women.”

Charlotte, N.C.-based Level Brands focuses on corporate brand management and consumer products marketing art, beauty, fashion, health and wellness, travel, and entertainment. Its licensed brand marketing businesses include I’M1, for Millennial men and the women who love them; EE1, a corporate brand manager and producer of experiential entertainment events and products across platforms; and Beauty & Pin-Ups, a hair care and disruptive women’s products brand.