Finally, A Wearable That Helps Track Your Period

 Urška Sršen didn't originally set out to make wearable tech. Two years ago, her company, Bellabeat, was trying to develop remote patient-monitoring systems for
prenatal care in Europe. As she learned how much women were overlooked in the health-tracking space, Sršen shifted gears. Bellabeat's latest is the limited-edition Leaf, nature-inspired smart jewelry that helps track activity, sleep, stress, and nutrition.

The Leaf is pretty unique in the wearables space. Whom did you have in mind when you designed this product?

"The Bellabeat
Leaf is for all women who want to change their lives for the healthier, without
having to compromise their style — women who want to understand how their bodies work and be prepared, physically and psychologically, for the different
challenges they face every day. Whether they are fitness enthusiasts, working professionals,
moms of three, or trying to get pregnant, the Bellabeat Leaf is designed to
provide them with the data that they need and advice tailored to their
lifestyle."

Why is activity-tracking important for women? 
"By understanding their habits, women gain a complete picture of their physical and emotional health, which empowers them to improve their overall wellbeing. Unlike many other trackers, the Leaf system monitors stress (via the rise and fall of your breath when worn as a necklace) and women’s health (monthly cycles and ovulation via the app), as well as activity and sleep."

How are your products different from other
wearables on the market? 
"We adjusted not just
the design of Bellabeat devices, but also the supporting software, to provide
female users with relevant information and insights. Bellabeat’s approach to
quantified self is holistic — where mind- and body-tracking are equally
important. The Leaf tracks women’s activity, sleep, and depth of breathing,
as well as menstrual and reproductive cycles, allowing them to better
understand the relationships between all aspects of their health."

The device is made of marshwood, a really unusual choice for a wearable-tech device. How is this wood
different? 
"The black bog oak
used in the Limited Edition Leaf is oak wood that has been buried in bogs for 7,000
years and then dug out and preserved. It is a rare form of
timber that is comparable to some of the world’s most expensive tropical
hardwoods. It’s naturally tinted by tannins and has undergone the early stages
of fossilization, which give it the characteristic, naturally formed, rich
black color. Sites of bog oak are very rare and can be found mostly only in Croatia
and Bosnia."