When did you start your business?
Acala Stem launched in Feb 2020 – one of the worst times in history to launch a business. This worked in our favour with the explosion of e-commerce, with two very big years before re-launching post-pandemic in April 2023.

What was the inspiration behind your work/business?
I lived and worked in Cambodia as a volunteer English teacher in Phnom Penh and the rural villages. During this time, I discovered the dire problem of how women are forced to work in developing countries. The uncensored exposure to extreme poverty and witnessing the horrific effects of the orphanage system changed my life forever. Thousands of women are forced to leave their children in unregulated orphanages to find work in the city. All of these jobs in the apparel industry are under slavery conditions and workers are under coercive control. They don’t see their children for months on end. Meanwhile their children are exposed to horrific, unspeakable situations in orphanages and the generational cycle of poverty continues. Acala Stem partners with a social enterprise to filter work out into the villages of Cambodia, so women can work from home with flexible conditions and keep their children at home. This unique supply chain is the very core of our business. Being a solo parent myself makes me even more passionate about helping women around the world to become financially independent and support their children while thriving.

What are you most excited about in your work/business?
We’re re-writing the meaning of luxury for modern times. We’re pushing boundaries with luxury textiles and the entire luxury industry for that matter. Basically it’s luxury without the classism or division. Instead it’s humanitarian and environmental values woven into the world’s most luxurious and sustainable textile. This is modern luxury.

What has been the most challenging thing about starting your work/business?
I have big dreams, which has taught me to practice patience, and take one important step at a time. I already have my own branding and design agency, so it’s a big juggle. I constantly have to pull back and look at the bigger picture and longer term goals, rather than pushing for shorter term gratification.

What advice would you give to other women thinking about starting a work/business?
Don’t listen to the nay-sayers. Most will tell you it won’t work and it will be a waste of time. Let that be your driver to make it work. You have to fall in love with the journey, not just be focused on the outcomes. You must have a purpose beyond money to keep driving you.
Don’t let any obstacles get in the way of starting your business. Time, funding and lack of knowledge are not your barriers – it’s only your mindset. You can start slow and start small, but just start. And most importantly don’t compare yourself to others as you never see their full picture.
Be agile with your ideas and be willing to alter them. Let them evolve and be open to new ones.
Starting a business is an ultramarathon and you need good nutrition, at least 2 litres of water a day, move your body and prioritise sleep. Nutrition is probably the least talked about business advice out there. It is a gamechanger to your results.
Listen to your inner guides and trust your gut. Nothing good will come from no risks. Regret hits harder than failure. Fear is the enemy, not failure. There are so many amazing women with great ideas, and a lot will never follow through, which breaks my heart. We’ve had many small failures along the way. I just launch over them now like hurdles and keep going.

Why did you enter the Women Changing the World Awards?
There’s a great deal of greenwashing and ethics washing in the industry, which makes it hard for consumers to decipher what really is ethical and sustainable. Consumers want more than just smaller quantities in production, they want to shop for good and see that it has a positive impact on the world. Since receiving Gold for Sustainability and Environmental Impact, it’s given our audience the assurance of our practices. As a result, it’s helped raise our conversion rate online. Our customers are like an army – they are the ones creating change in the world and they know it.

What did you enjoy the most about being part of the awards?
Seeing the look on my 7 year old daughter’s face when I received the 3 awards. I could then see the possibilities in her eyes, and the realization that she too can do big things. Being a role model for her as a solo parent has been the biggest reward. We were on a plane on the tarmac literally about to take off on our first holiday in Australia as they announced the awards. Then I had to turn my phone off for over 2 hours and I couldn’t tell anybody, so my daughter told everyone on the plane!

What surprised you most about the awards?
The support and messages from women all around the world that had also entered. What an amazing community of women!

How did the awards help you in your work/business?
I had some tough times last year. A severe neck injury, close to burn out, and a lot of heart-wrenching disappointments. The 3 trophies on the shelf are probably why I’m still going. They uplifted me and reminded me what’s possible on those tough days.

What advice would you give to other women thinking about entering the awards?
Enter, enter enter!

What has been the best thing about starting your own work/business?
My life is enriched in ways I never dreamed of, through purpose and meaning. The people I’ve met since starting Acala Stem have blown my mind. We have customers local and around the world that are huge supporters. Some are soon to be collaborators and affiliates. So many want to get behind our cause and be a part of what we’re doing and that excites me so much. This was such a surprise to me. It tells me I’m on the right path.

What’s happening next in your work/business?
There’s a lot! A new and very exciting range of apparel that’s been in the works for a long time. I’ve also been dreaming of an official launch party, which we missed out on due to Covid. Watch this space.

What are your big plans for the future?
The ultimate plan for the future is see our supply chain design rolled out across many other brands, to the point where consumers will demand this. No human on earth should be put in slavery conditions to produce clothing – ever. We also want to keep the sacred art of loom weaving alive for generations to come. Machine production of textiles is choking the planet and we can’t sustain that current magnitude. We’re re-learning to cherish textiles again, and unlearning that clothing is disposable or using the donating culture to justify the abundance of it.
I also want to expand my love for speaking and presenting, to encourage more people to overcome adversity and follow their dreams.

How can we connect with you?

https://acalastem.com
https://www.facebook.com/acala.stem
https://www.instagram.com/acala.stem/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leanne-savage-bb877117/
https://www.tiktok.com/@acala.stem