self-love, BABY LET’S TALK ABOUT

Meet the sisters behind Hall of Harper, the new-age sex store challenging the status quo.

By PENELOPE PELECAS

With sex toys chic enough to double as home décor, Hall of Harper is not your average adult store. The sexual wellness boutique, run by Gold Coastbased sisters Mollie and Charlotte O’Sullivan, is challenging the way we approach sex and self-care, and working to normalise the conversation.

“[Sexual wellness] has come a long way in the last three years and hopefully it continues to do so,” they said.

Mollie and Charlotte have created an incredibly chic safe haven where questions are welcomed, feelings of self-loathe are left at the door, and sex toys are displayed like art – a stark contrast to the neon-lit shop fronts we’re accustomed to. At first glance, you may mistake the space for an eccentric art gallery, where erotic art, sensual books, and intricate flower displays line the walls. Did we mention there’s also a champagne bar onsite?

Each product is selected with intention, with a particular emphasis on female-led, sustainable, and design-forward brands.

“We like to be as conscious and selective as possible when it comes to the brands and products we stock,” the sister duo said.

There’s everything from all-natural lubricants and intimacy serums to veganfriendly condoms and sex toys made from medical-grade silicone.

“Your sexual health can enrich your life in a big way,” they said. “There are many layers to unlock and discover about yourself and all it takes is a little bit of curiosity and exploration.”

Mollie and Charlotte’s fresh take on sexual wellness, and how it works hand-in-hand with self-care, got us thinking about how far we’ve come – from once a widely taboo topic to now a part of the natural make-up of a healthy person. We spoke to Brisbane-based Clinical Sexologist Naomi Hutchings to find out more.

Hi Naomi! Thanks for chatting with us. Do you think intimacy and wellness are connected? For sure. For some people intimacy always includes sex, but then [I speak to] other people who go, ‘no, for me being intimate is a really amazing conversation with my partner’.

How do you think sexual wellness relates to self-love or self-care?

For some people solo sex is part of their self-care routine – it can [help to] relieve anxiety, it can relax [you], there’s just a lot of health benefits.

How do you see the sexual wellness industry progressing?

I certainly think we’re getting better at just making it part of our everyday [lives]. I think it’s going to continue to be more normalised. The more we [talk about] this, the less shame, right?

We’re seeing a big shift in the marketing of personalised products, how do you think this affects our awareness of sexual health?

I just think they’re making them [different], different colours, different materials – it just helps to take away the taboo and hopefully help people not have shame around it.