When it comes to partner pleasure, sapphics and lesbians deserve toys that are designed with their bodies, their needs, and their experiences in mind. But for far too long, the sex toy industry has overlooked sapphic partnerships, leaving us with options that just don’t work—or worse, weren’t made for us at all.
That’s why I started Banana Split Shop. As a sapphic person, I knew firsthand how frustrating it was to find a partner toy that actually worked for me and my partner. Most partner toys are designed for cishet couples and fail to account for the diversity of sapphic bodies, desires, and relationships.
At Banana Split Shop, we’re changing that. Here's how it all started:
My Journey From Frustration to Innovation
Like many sapphics, I craved the intimacy of simultaneous physical pleasure with my partner. More specifically, I wanted to experience something that traditional strap-on sex couldn’t offer—the physical sensation of penetration for the wearer. While strap-on sex is deeply emotionally fulfilling, I longed for that added layer of physical connection—because, really, who wouldn’t?
Excited to explore new possibilities (and expand my sex toy collection), I set out to find the perfect partner toy. But every option I tried was too large, too stiff, or simply didn’t work for my body.
I was struggling with vaginismus at the time, which made things even more challenging—every double-ended toy on the market was way too large for me to comfortably use. I kept trying, assuming eventually I'd find the right fit--but it simply didn't exist.
I kept running into the same frustrating problems over and over again:
- Too big, too stiff, too inflexible—making comfort and movement nearly impossible.
- No returns—every purchase was a massive gamble because if it doesn't fit both people, the toy is basically useless.
- An expensive trial-and-error process, with hundreds of dollars wasted on toys that didn’t work.
- A rigid, one-size-fits-all model—ignoring the diversity of sapphic bodies and partnerships.
I eventually realized one of the main reasons behind all these issues: partner toys weren't often designed for sapphics. To me, this wasn’t just inconvenient—it was infuriating. A type of toy that would be the most meaningful and valuable to sapphic couples--as opposed to other types of couples--is designed with us as an afterthought rather than a priority.
So, I started digging deeper. I researched, talked to other sapphics, and surveyed my community—and what I discovered was wild: 78% of sapphics couldn’t find a single double-ended dildo that worked for their anatomy.
78%! That means the overwhelming majority of our community simply could not access these toys at all.
The moment I realized how universal this struggle was, I knew I wanted to be the one to fix it.
The Idea for Banana Split Shop: A Better Way to Design Partner Toys for Sapphics
Luckily, I already had the vision for Banana Split Shop's design.
The answer felt intuitive: a partner toy shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all. Every sapphic couple is unique, with different needs, preferences, and anatomies. So why were all partner toys designed as rigid, fixed structures, forcing us to adapt to them instead of the other way around?
Instead, I wanted to create a mix-and-match model: two individual toys that come together allowing each partner to customize their experience without sacrificing comfort or pleasure. It needed to be adjustable, versatile and designed intentionally for sapphic bodies and relationships.
I had the idea—now came the hard part: bringing it to life.
Creating Banana Split Shop: Steep Learning Curve, But Worth It
As a young queer woman, fresh out of college and with no experience in business, starting out was deeply intimidating. The learning curve was steep—I suddenly had to figure out everything from:
- Industrial design
- Overseas manufacturing
- Finance & accounting
- Patent law
- Web design
- Marketing & PR
And more! Everything was new and overwhelming. I decided to go for it anyway and just take things one step at a time. But I knew I couldn’t build Banana Split Shop alone.
Finding Support in the Sexual Wellness Industry
When I took the first steps to create Banana Split Shop, I was terrified to ask for help. Imposter syndrome hit me hard—every time I reached out for advice, I wondered, “What if they only said yes out of obligation?”
But as I started connecting with women and queer people in the industry, I was blown away by their responses. They weren’t just willing to help—they were excited about Banana Split Shop and eager to share their experience and resources with me.
While the sexual wellness space as a whole can be highly competitive and intense--the small community I found within it of queer people and women different. It was a space of collaboration, mutual support, and a joint effort towards the same goals:
- Serving an underserved community
- Destigmatizing queer people & women’s pleasure
- Creating and helping people access everything they might need to have the sexual experiences possible.
I was so lucky to find myself surrounded by mentors and supporters who genuinely wanted to see Banana Split Shop succeed.
I don’t think I could have come this far—or overcome my imposter syndrome—without the incredible guidance and generosity of the people who lifted me up. Banana Split Shop wouldn't be where it is today without them.
Banana Split Shop: For Sapphics By Sapphics
My journey, starting from the frustration of all not being able to find a partner toy that worked for my body, all the way up to where I am today, finally bringing a finished product to my community, its definitely been a wild ride. There were so many challenges and hurdles to overcome that nearly stopped me from taking those first leaps into building Banana Split Shop.
Looking back, it was definitely scary but so worth it. The responses from sapphics who have shared their own struggles, their excitement about Banana Split Shop's designs, and their gratitude is so deeply validating and rewarding.
Banana Split Shop isn’t just about sex toys. Banana Split Shop is about empowering sapphics to explore their pleasure and creating a space where our needs come first—where we don’t have to settle for products that were never made for us.
I’m so grateful for the people who helped me build Banana Split Shop, the community that continues to support this mission, and the unique opportunity I got, to create something that helps sapphics connect on a new and deeper level.
Welcome to Banana Split Shop!
