More about Safina Butalia

OUR STORY

ACAO(a-sao) which means to move, was created for fitness but designed for life. Born with the idea of comfortable stylish essential wear, I wanted to create pieces that you would move and live in. Something that makes you feel powerful, yet comfortable.

It took us a long long time, but from process to execution, we converted challenges into experience. Experience, that has led us to create a conscious collection, where function meets everlasting fashion.  I knew I wanted to create niche pieces which met the needs of people but also pieces that did little harm to the environment.

We always say that we are a COVID baby. It is a very strong part of our story. The challenges of bringing a brand to the market during a worldwide pandemic were thus far unpredictable. As we were not being able to touch and feel the fabrics together, we were forced to find new ways to keep going. We couldn’t carry out any sourcing during the actual lockdown and had to work with the sourcing which was already done and stay prepared to fill in the gaps as soon as we could. This has been a major roadblock in making clothes during a pandemic. 

We have a long way to go and much to learn, but I hope that if you choose to make a piece of ACAO a part of your life, you will find that the attention, care and love given to each piece, reflects when you wear it.We are not perfect- as a Brand. We are not perfect- as people. We are not perfect in product. We are doing our best we can, and we aim to improve every single day with every single product launch. 


ABOUT ACAO


ACAO is a consciously curated collection of comfortable essential wear made with recycled and sustainable fabrics. We are here to have a positive impact on the world.
 Our goal is to make a product that does as little harm to the earth as possible. We use eco-friendly dyes and make sure that the dye water is clean before it enters into the water system.
 Dyes are supplied by Huntsman Dyes in the US & are OEKO-TEX® & GOTS approved, protecting our planet for future generations. Also approved by GOTS, the Global Organic Textile Standard means the harvesting of raw materials is handled in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. We have partnered up with ECONYL®. ECONYL® is regenerated nylon which is made by recovering nylon waste - such as fishing nets from the oceans and aquaculture, fabric scraps from mills and carpets destined for landfill – and turning it into virgin quality nylon yarn for the fashion and interior industries. We also use REPREVE®.  Widely certified as one of the most earth-friendly fibers available, REPREVE® fabric is made from high-quality polyester yarns generated from 100% recycled materials, including post-consumer plastic bottles and pre-consumer industrial waste. The production of REPREVE® reduces the consumption of energy by 45%, water by 20% and greenhouse gas emissions by over 30% as compared with producing virgin polyester.


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Featured speaker at previous eChai events:
CoRise Women Entrepreneurs Circle in Chandigarh x SpaceJam Coworking
Founders and startup folks who joined past eChai startup events

The eChai Effect - In Their Words

“When we launched LegalWiz.in back in 2016, concept of procuring legal and compliance services through a digital commerce platform wasn't as prominent in India. eChai played a significant role in providing the early adopters, and building significant positioning in the startup fraternity. Overtime, eChai grew to be a massive network of like-minded entrepreneurs and extended that benefit to all the members in a true "co-rise" spirit. I personally love to attend eChai events, learn from subject matter experts who share relatable and actionable insights and experiences. For startup journeys, it is so important to be surrounded by people who can add relevance, perspective, and push you to do better. Most importantly a group of people where you aren't being judged about things going right or wrong, but be a motivational force that keeps you going, yet keeping you in check. eChai is that place for me!”
Shrijay Sheth - Founder at LegalWiz.in and Hire4Higher Consulting
Shrijay Sheth
Founder at LegalWiz.in and Hire4Higher Consulting
"For me, eChai is a second home. I've been associated with it since the early days, when it was already setting a different tone for how startup communities could work. As a traditional business owner entering the new-age D2C space, eChai supported me in every direction. Over the years, it became my window to the startup world — and also gave me lifelong friends who continue to show up, for business and beyond."
Pankaj Bhimani - Founder, 58miles
Pankaj Bhimani
Founder, 58miles
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Koumal Kalantry - Founder, Bignano Ventures
Koumal Kalantry
Founder, Bignano Ventures