CHATSWORTH, Calif.—A collaboration between AVN Award-winning editor Gabrielle Anex and pleasure products manufacturer NS Novelties has produced the Shi/Shi Union, a pleasure products created specifically for lesbian couples.
“I came up with the idea for the product when I grew frustrated with the lack of toys available specifically for lesbians,” explained Anex, whose real name is Sandy Holland. “To be blunt, the toy is meant to be used in the tribbing (scissoring) position. It came about because I'm a lesbian and most attempts to use a vibrator between two women are frustrating because, when in that position, usually only one person can feel the vibrator based on the fact [most vibrators] are straight. So I designed a toy that can swivel on each side so each partner can feel it equally. Basically it's an egg-shaped vibrator, and each side moves independently.”
Holland, a porn editor for 20 years now, is well known in the industry for her work. Nominated 18 times for Best Editing, she won the AVN Award in 2016 for The Submission of Emma Marx: Boundaries for New Sensations’ Erotic Stories line.
Holland said she had never developed a pleasure product before, and had never been involved with the novelty side of the industry at all, but after having edited movies for eight years for Scott Taylor and New Sensations, it made sense for her to bring the idea to NS Novelties.
“I pitched it to Scott Taylor and he liked the idea and asked me to build a mock-up,” Holland said. “So I made it with Play-Doh and showed it to him, and we then took it to Lavi Yedid in the novelties area to run with.”
Yedid came up with the name Shi/Shi Union, and created all the details that make the Shi/Shi Union different than any other product out there: The vibe has two powerful, independently controlled motors housed in a soft silicone body-contoured casing that move in tandem with each partner.
The Shi/Shi Union is waterproof and safe to use with all lubricants, and measures 3.5 inches by 3 inches by 2.3 inches. It uses four AA batteries and retails for $99.
“I think what sets it apart is that it is the first sex toy designed specifically for lesbian couples,” Holland said. “I think it helps that it was designed by someone who is a lesbian herself.”
The Shi/Shi Union was made available to retailers and consumers on July 1, and already it’s creating a buzz. The product was named Best LGBT product at the recent AdultEx Awards, which Holland said “is really cool.”
“It will be featured in the upcoming mainstream web series UnCorked, which I am currently editing,” she added.
The Shi/Shi Union is available in black and pink. For more, visit NSNovelties.com.
