By Tiffany, founder of JulieMay Lingerie.
Quick answer: JulieMay founder Tiffany lived for years with allergic rhinitis, hay fever, eosinophilic asthma, nocturnal urticaria and heightened sensitivity before her period, without realising fabric was a trigger. Synthetic fibres, dyes and chemical finishes can irritate sensitive skin and even affect breathing in poorly ventilated rooms, especially with body heat and pressure over long periods. It is why JulieMay uses breathable organic cotton with hypoallergenic silk linings, enclosed seams and cotton-wrapped elastics.
I didn't think I had allergies
Most of my life, I never thought of myself as someone with allergies. It sounds odd now, knowing what I do about my body. But when symptoms are always present, they just feel normal. It becomes hard to tell whether this is just me or my body is reacting to something.
It was only after starting JulieMay, doing real research and talking to customers that things became clear. Many women shared the same stories: unexplained rashes, poor sleep, and days of feeling inflamed for no clear reason. As I learned more about textiles, reactions and women's experiences, it all started to make sense. What I had dismissed for years wasn't me being fussy or weak. My body was reacting to something real. That's the strange thing about chronic sensitivity: when it's always there, you stop noticing it. It just becomes your normal.
Allergic rhinitis since childhood
I've had allergic rhinitis and hay fever my whole life, so long that I never even named them. I just had sneezing seasons, a nose that always reacted to something, and felt worse in certain rooms or near certain fabrics. Now I understand that these conditions keep my immune system on alert. Things like synthetic fibres, fabric dyes and chemical finishes, stuff most people never notice, can quickly become a problem when your immune system is already sensitive.
Eosinophilia and eosinophilic asthma, diagnosed in my 30s
In my 30s, I was diagnosed with a persistently high eosinophil count and eosinophilic asthma. Eosinophils are white blood cells involved in allergic responses; when they're chronically elevated, the body reacts to contact allergens in ways that show up on the skin and in the lungs.
Eosinophilic asthma is caused by inflammation in the airways, not just common triggers like exercise or cold air. For me, fibres and chemicals from synthetic fabrics can end up in the air I breathe. In closed spaces like bedrooms or changing rooms, the fabrics around us affect the air, and my symptoms get worse in rooms with poor ventilation. What you sleep in and wear affects the air around you. These things are connected.
I had been experiencing all of this for years before I gave it a name. That gap between symptoms and diagnosis is something I think many women live in, quietly, for a long time. It's one reason I'm so careful about the materials we use. For some women, fabric isn't just about comfort or style. It can affect how they feel in their skin and even how they breathe. That's why we choose pure silk linings for softness against the skin, and organic cotton for breathability and safety. Both are naturally hypoallergenic and gentle, reducing the risk of irritation for sensitive skin.
Nocturnal urticaria: the nights I had to get up and bathe
The worst part, especially in winter, was waking in the middle of the night with hives. Certain fabrics in my bedding or nightwear would trigger a reaction while I slept. The only thing that helped was getting up, taking a bath, and washing off the allergens before I could sleep again. Now I know that body heat and pressure make it easier for skin to absorb allergens from fabric, so a material that feels fine at first can become a real problem after hours of contact. That's why every JulieMay collection uses a silk lining, and why heat influences every fabric choice we make, especially for clothes worn close to the body for long periods.
PMS and what it does to sensitivity, from my late 20s
In my late 20s, I noticed a pattern I couldn't ignore. The week before my period, everything felt more intense. My skin was more sensitive, I couldn't handle pressure, and even normal clothes felt wrong. So I started keeping a small set of softer, looser clothes just for that week, pieces I knew I could tolerate.
It wasn't just physical. That time of the month also brought irritability, low mood, feeling overwhelmed and being more easily upset, along with bloating and tiredness. My skin was irritated, and so was my mood. It's hard to explain if you haven't felt it, but when your body already feels sensitive, the wrong fabric, seam or waistband can make you feel much worse.
How founding my business saved me
JulieMay didn't just give me a business to build. It helped me understand myself. It helped me connect the dots between symptoms I had gotten used to, and made me more aware of what my body was reacting to. That awareness changed how I think about comfort, clothing and my own health. In that sense, JulieMay really did save me.
Every choice we make at JulieMay comes from that understanding. It's why we care about the fabrics we use, the enclosed seams, the cotton-wrapped elastics, the silk linings and the skin-friendly dyes. We think about how clothes feel all day, not just for a moment in front of a mirror. All of this comes from real experience.
JulieMay started as something personal, but it grew into something bigger, a way to support women who have been overlooked by an industry that often puts appearance before comfort. It came from my own story, my discomfort, and my relief at finally understanding my body wasn't the problem. I just needed better materials, better design, and a better conversation about women's comfort. That is what I want our allergy-friendly lingerie to offer.
Frequently asked questions
Can fabric really affect allergies and breathing?
Yes. For people with sensitive skin or conditions like eosinophilic asthma, synthetic fibres, dyes and chemical finishes can irritate the skin and, in poorly ventilated rooms, affect the air you breathe. Breathable natural fibres are gentler.
What is nocturnal urticaria?
It's hives that flare at night, sometimes triggered by fabrics in bedding or nightwear, as body heat and prolonged contact make it easier for skin to absorb allergens. Soft, breathable, hypoallergenic fabrics can help.
Why does skin sensitivity increase before a period?
Hormonal changes in the days before menstruation can heighten skin sensitivity and lower tolerance to pressure, so seams, waistbands and certain fabrics can feel far more irritating than usual.
Last updated: June 2026.
