An Interview with Seethala Karipineni, Founder of Saka Organics

An interview with Seethala Karipineni, Founder of Saka Organics, a sustainable skincare brand

In this interview, Seethala Karipineni, founder of Saka Organics, discusses her passion for sustainable skincare.

She shares insights into her journey of creating a brand that prioritizes natural ingredients and eco-friendly practices, aiming to inspire consumers to embrace a more responsible approach to beauty.

What inspired you to start Saka Organics, and how did you identify the need for organic personal care products in the market?

Seethala Karipineni: Saka Organics began with a simple yet powerful idea: empowering women through meaningful work. Early on, I taught soap-making skills to women in rural communities, helping them build sustainable livelihoods.

This experience showed me how natural, honest products can create real impact—not just for users, but for the people who make them.

At the same time, I noticed a gap in the market. Many personal care products were either complicated, filled with chemicals, or lacked transparency.

People deserve better—clean, simple, and trustworthy options that don’t force you to second-guess what’s inside.

That’s why Saka Organics is built on honesty and empowerment. We focus on straightforward, natural formulations and work closely with women-led teams and local farmers.

Our goal is to offer personal care products that are effective, accessible, and rooted in care for both people and the planet.

Can you share the journey of developing your first product and the challenges you faced?

Seethala Karipineni: Our first product was basic handmade soap. I started working on it during school, using simple ingredients and trial-and-error methods.

We weren’t thinking of a brand back then—it was just about learning and teaching a skill to rural women. But even in that process, I realized how powerful simple, natural ingredients can be.

Later, during the pandemic, I started experimenting again in my dad’s lab—this time with more intention. I was learning about ingredients, testing different formulations, and understanding how each one worked on different skin types.

The biggest challenge early on was achieving consistent quality. Natural ingredients can vary based on seasonality and sourcing, which affects how the product performs.

Getting the formulation just right—and ensuring it remained stable and effective across every batch—took a lot of trial, error, and learning. This experience taught me that product development is never truly finished; it’s a continuous cycle of refining, testing, and adapting.

That first product laid the foundation for how we still work at Saka: keep it simple, keep it effective, and don’t overcomplicate it.

How do you differentiate Saka Organics from other brands in the personal care industry?

Seethala Karipineni: Saka Organics creates natural skincare, haircare, and oral care products using minimal, transparent ingredients sourced directly from local farmers. In a market flooded with chemicals and overclaims, we offer a simpler, safer alternative rooted in clarity, care, and consciousness.

Every product is made in-house at our FDA-approved manufacturing facility. We don’t outsource a single step—from formulation and testing to packaging. This hands-on approach lets us control quality, reduce waste, and remain fully transparent with every batch.

We work seasonally, launching only a few products at a time—based on relevance, not trends. No jargon, no inflated promises. Just honest, effective products made to last.

At Saka, simplicity guides everything—from our ingredient list and packaging to our brand voice. We control the entire supply chain, staying true to our quality and values every step of the way.

Most importantly, we build Saka alongside a strong, predominantly women-led team, creating meaningful livelihoods through every small-batch, intentional product we make.

Saka goes beyond the usual D2C model. You’ll find us in boutique cafés, wellness corners, thoughtful gift platforms, modern retail shelves, and hotel rooms that care.

We also empower brands through white labelling—helping them tell their own story with products made with care. At Saka, we’re not just building a skincare brand—we’re nurturing a kinder, more conscious personal care ecosystem.

What are your thoughts on the current trends in the organic personal care market?

Seethala Karipineni: The market is oversaturated, and everyone wants to look “green.” But I think we’re at a point where consumers are craving clarity more than claims.

The trends we find relevant are:

• Seasonal care over static SKUs
• Ingredient traceability—people want to know who grew it, how it’s made
• Fewer, more functional products—over hyper-targeted “solutions”
• Purpose-led brands with actual backend alignment, not just aesthetics

That said, the real shift is in consumer behavior, moving away from marketing jargon and gravitating toward products that actually work and feel good over time. That’s where Saka fits in.

Can you discuss any partnerships or collaborations that have been pivotal for Saka Organics?

A few key collaborations have helped shape how Saka is perceived. On the institutional side, being incubated at NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore gave us access to mentorship and structure that shaped our early strategy.

We’ve also found strong resonance with boutique hotels, eco-resorts, and wellness retreats. These are spaces where guests are already conscious of what they consume—and that’s where Saka fits perfectly.

Supplying our handwashes, soaps, and oils to these partners has not only helped drive trial but has also validated that Saka belongs in experiences that are mindful, slow, and rooted in quality.

We also work directly with local farming communities and women’s self-help groups—these are not just suppliers, they are long-term partners in building a more resilient, transparent supply chain.

How do you envision the future of Saka Organics in the next five years?

Seethala Karipineni: We want to be the go-to brand for people looking for minimal, clean, and effective personal care products rooted in local wisdom. In the next five years, we see Saka growing into a brand that’s not only trusted for its products but also respected for its people, processes, and purpose.

We’re expanding our product range, focusing on sustainable packaging, and building stronger retail and digital distribution.

Our roadmap includes:

• Deepening our presence on online channels with select, seasonal SKUs
• Expanding offline through curated modern trade and lifestyle-driven stores
• Growing the institutional and gifting verticals—especially with HORECA, wellness retreats, and corporates
• Strengthening white labelling partnerships to support like-minded brands with quality, ready-to-scale formulations
• Building educational and experience-driven formats—whether it’s workshops, pop-ups, or brand-led content

But most importantly, we want to keep the backend strong—more farmer partnerships, more women in the workforce, and more innovation at the processing and packaging levels.

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs in the personal care industry?

Seethala Karipineni: Start small. Be honest. Focus on your product. Don’t chase trends—solve real problems. Know your ingredients, test relentlessly, and stay close to your consumer. If you build something meaningful and do it with care, people will notice.

Seethala’s commitment to sustainability and innovation positions Saka Organics as a leader in the skincare industry, encouraging a shift towards environmentally conscious choices.

Her vision not only enhances beauty but also fosters a deeper connection with nature, paving the way for a more sustainable future.

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