Suds & Co., founded by Rishada Fausz, is a handmade soap and skincare brand which, since its humble beginnings in 2019 having started as a simple do-it-yourself (DIY) project, has flourished, carving out for itself a special corner of the market.
The brand offers products that are cruelty-free, and because their soaps are made using the cold-process method, it creates no wasted by-products, with every bar poured, cut, and packed by hand, using reusable and recyclable packaging. The soaps are made using carefully chosen ingredients without the addition of SLS (sodium laureth sulfate), parabens, harmful preservatives, or foaming agents.
Fausz shared that Suds & Co. has made a name for itself, owing to its handmade charm, and while there’s plenty of mainstream soap brands out there, there’s something special about having an item made by hand, with each bar bringing with it an individual character that is unique to it alone.
While Suds & Co. was initially doing well in its journey as a green-conscious creative brand that is entirely homegrown, Fausz shared that this year, owing to the prevailing situation of the country, unsurprisingly, her business has suffered. She noted that the economic crisis and the resultant price hikes and import restrictions have impacted nearly every aspect of her homegrown business.
She noted that there have been some challenges in sourcing ingredients, noting one specific example of an item called “Island Life”, a beloved item, which had to be discontinued because the specific fragrance oil used in its production is now far too expensive and difficult to source. She said that she had no choice but to remove it from her collection.
Fausz noted that one of the primary concerns for her, with the effects upon her business due to these prevailing conditions, is the increase in price. She said that her original objective was to create affordable skincare products, to make something that is special but also affordable. However, with how things are going, she has had to increase her prices to cover costs, and it’s affecting the heart of the business.
She said that often, handmade soaps are novelty items, something people would splurge on for a gift, and even for her, some of her business is to create gift items for events. However, what she hopes to do with Suds & Co. is to provide a specialty item that is practical for daily use, which means it must be affordable.
She shared that especially with the increased prices of items like coconut oil, which is a key ingredient in nearly every single one of her products, the prices have really been affected. Fausz noted that while they go to great lengths to have all of their ingredients locally produced, Sri Lanka tends to have very little that they produce themselves, and so there are a lot of imports, which, in turn, has affected the overall price hike we are experiencing.
Sharing her experience during these trying times, Fausz also shared, speaking for her fellow homegrown business owners and entrepreneurs as well, that she is hopeful that things will get better, and she asked everyone to just hold on and brave the storm.
Website: https://sudsnco.com/
Instagram: @sudsnco
