Mainstream sex shops always manifest the usual agenda: penis-shaped lollipops, flimsy lingerie that is bound to tear (intentionally or unintentionally, that’s your M.O.) upon first wear, and the piece de resistance—an array of much-too-realistic dildos and vibrators lining every corner of the store. Though some of us may be into veiny, frighteningly-large sex toys, some of us would rather have something, well, pleasurable to the eye and our bodies.

That’s why we’re focusing our attention (and our orgasms) to these women-owned sex toy brands. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing to look at, but they’re created by women to manifest the female energy that the sex industry has neglected for decades. Take a look at some of our favorite women-run sex toy brands, and read what the founders had to say about the pitfalls and triumphs of the modern sex industry.