*Explicit language and content warning*
“We need a place where we can evolve, first of all as people, as single individuals, then as a community. La CLIT is an individual journey which is becoming collective.” Giulia Heuser on La CLIT, Coffee Literature Inspiration & (sex) Toys
Giulia Heuser and Francesca De Gaudio have been friends since childhood, they were even Girl Scouts together. Throughout the various stages of their lives, they frequently confided in each other – as BFFs do – about the changes in their bodies and asked each other questions they had about their own sexuality and sex in general. Dissatisfied with what they found online and in the real world, they devised a plan to open Florence’s first literary cafe centered on the world of sexuality. They envisioned a warm ambience where people felt comfortable and at ease talking about everything related to sex and sexuality, with the guidance of expert guests, side by side with Giulia and Francesca who are both now licensed sex educators. Imagine sitting in a bright, comfortable, beautiful space and sipping on a flute of prosecco or enjoying a cappuccino while you learn and share in a safe place of culture and knowledge.
A very young venture, while they look for a brick-and-mortar shop (if anyone knows of anything suitable, please reach out to them!), La CLIT is hosting sold-out pop-ups on an incredibly wide range of topics, of interest to a vast and diversified audience, at various venues throughout Florence and Tuscany. They are also looking at pleasure holistically, organizing private and public events like wines tastings, workshops, or other activities that highlight the various intersections and interconnectedness of all kinds of pleasure.
I am so impressed by what Giulia and Francesca are doing, how they have approached their business with so much rigor, passion, preparation and joy, and struck by how committed they are to their community and clients, ensuring that everything they do and sell is of the highest quality and always in line with their values and mission.
It truly is my pleasure to introduce you to La CLIT.
More about La CLIT
La CLIT, Coffee, Literature, Inspiration & (sex) Toys is a new Florence-based project on sexual wellness and body-positivity culture. La CLIT explores the many facets of our sexuality through the lens of culture, live events, and an online store with high-quality body-safe products, with a special regard for sustainability, manufacturing and design.
La CLIT, an acronym for Coffee, Literature, Inspiration and (sex) Toys, was born from the meeting of two Florentine women, a lawyer and an architect. They came together with the intent of exploring the topic of sexuality in a fun and intelligent way. La CLIT is more than just an online shop selling quality sex toys and other luxury sexual health items: the core of the project is the creation of a moment in time to discuss sexual wellness together, openly and candidly, while enjoying a coffee or a glass of wine.
This project is a direct result of personal and communal needs to find a shared space for openly discussing and learning about topics such as pleasure, sex toys and body awareness. La CLIT is a social and cultural hub, where information and discussion dovetail. Live events, talks and discussions are held: from pelvic floor workshops to wine tastings paired with sex toy displays and shopping; from seminars dispelling doubts around changes in sexuality in postpartum and menopause to events focused on sexual fantasies and desires. A community that promotes sex positivity and inclusivity
These informative, light-hearted and friendly events and gatherings make la CLIT a safe, inclusive and inter-generational space that promotes sexual education, body positivity, and deconstruction of internalized patriarchal influences. The goal is to create an open and intelligent community led by curiosity, learning and sexual health, where people can come together and talk freely about topics that are often avoided, such as female pleasure and desire, kink, opening relationships, erectile dysfunction and consent.
Carefully selected body-safe products with special attention to eco-friendliness, women-owned business, design and manufacturing, La CLIT stands apart from the typical Italian sexy-shop: with its welcoming, bright and relaxed vibe, it’s light years away from the stereotypical dingy dungeon.
Biographies
Francesca De Gaudio (1988, Florence), an architect, and Giulia Heuser (1988, London), a lawyer and legal translator, have been friends for as long as they can remember and have constantly shared all aspects of their lives, from volunteering to political commitment, from study and work experiences abroad to relationships and sexuality, while constantly pursuing the idea of making a difference. Not long ago, they realized how much they wanted and needed a place (not online!) to talk freely and to learn about sexuality, with experts and friends alike. And so, La CLIT – Coffee, Literature, Inspiration & (sex) Toys was born!
Links
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/la_clit/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565976184572
Recorded at Musikalmente Firenze, November 2024
Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis
Production Intern: Ava Lees