Abhati Suisse: Where Indian Soul Meets Swiss Science

Founded in 2015 by Anju Rupal and later joined by her daughter, Shirin Dörig, as co-founder, the brand partners with the non-profit organisation Educate Girls, which supports the education of Indian girls. It is also a certified B Corporation, working with farmers to grow ingredients sustainably and ensure ethical sourcing. Anju and Shirin have blended Indian soul with Swiss science to create Future Forward Beauty. In this interview, the mother-daughter duo share their journey, inspirations and vision for the brand.

SAFAR: Anju Rupal, what does Abhati mean and why did you choose this name?
Anju Rupal: Abhati in ancient Sanskrit means “shine”. I chose the name because the farmers I met had such a beautiful glow and shine in their skin and hair. I knew I wanted to bring these ancient rituals and secrets to Switzerland. We use Swiss biotech, which is why I added “Suisse” to the name. We use this technology to lower our carbon footprint, extend ingredient life and still maintain potency. It’s a sustainable and ethical way of using these powerful plants. 

What inspired you to start Abhati Suisse?
Anju: My inspiration came from my work with an NGO planting trees globally. Through this, I met tribal farmers in the Himalayan region of India. I spent three days with Matthieu Ricard, the Dalai Lama’s French translator and a practicing monk, discussing my vision. He encouraged me to follow my heart, which gave me the confidence to launch Abhati Suisse. I sold my previous business and used the funds from my equity to finance my new company.

Shirin Dörig, has beauty always been an interest of yours?
Shirin Dörig: Yes, absolutely. From making videos as a child to exploring skincare and wellness as I grew up, it has always been something I’ve loved.

How did you get involved in Abhati?
Shirin: I’ve been passionate about beauty for as long as I can remember. At ten, I started a YouTube channel experimenting with DIY face masks, scrubs and product reviews. So when my mum launched Abhati, it felt natural to step in. After studying, travelling and gaining work experience, I was ready to take on a bigger role. Seeing my mum’s passion and the idea of creating beauty with a purpose drew me in. Abhati isn’t just about products; it’s about helping people feel confident while also making a social impact.

What is your role as a co-founder?
Shirin: I focus on online sales, social media and managing our amenities. What I enjoy most is building a direct connection with our community and seeing how people respond to our products. Of course, as founders, we both do a bit of everything.

Do you have any siblings involved in Abhati?
Shirin: I have an older sister, Alisha, who is a naturopath. She isn’t involved in operations but shares her knowledge about healing plants and rituals with us.

What have you learned from becoming a co-founder, and was there something you wanted to do differently?
Shirin: I’ve learned how hard it is to truly switch off, but staying connected with our community is invaluable. Hearing people’s stories about how Abhati has helped them motivates me and reminds me why we started this journey. When I joined, I wanted to make Abhati appeal to a younger generation. My mum connects beautifully with her generation, but I wanted to bring in my perspective and show that a heritage, sustainable brand can also feel modern and relevant today.

How did you come across the ingredients you use?
Anju: I know them from my Indian heritage. My mum always used ingredients like turmeric, amla and ancient beauty rituals on us, but they were often too oily and smelly and didn’t fit my lifestyle.

How has being both Swiss and Indian influenced your approach?
Shirin: Being both Swiss and Indian gives me a unique perspective. My hair and skin are finer than many South Asians, so while traditional oils are wonderful, they can sometimes feel too heavy. That’s why we adapt these ingredients using Swiss biotech to create formulas suitable for all hair and skin types. It’s about combining the best of both worlds.

Did you learn anything new when making the products?
Anju: I knew the ingredients, but I learned they need to be grown at certain elevations. We store them 1,200 meters above sea level, which is why we call them “altitude actives.” From the Swiss side, we use Edelweiss and fuse it with Indian ingredients. Our brand represents the soul of India, the science of Switzerland and Future Forward Beauty.

Is there an Indian ritual that inspired a product?
Shirin: Yes, the Indian head massage, or champi. My grandmother and mum gave them to me as a child. This ritual inspired our Chambal Hair Oil, designed to deliver the same care and nourishment.

What is your vision for Abhati Suisse?
Shirin: I see us expanding our amenities and opening new markets, while staying true to our heritage and mission of beauty with purpose. We’ve already enabled over 600,000 school days for girls in India and helped people with issues like hair loss, dandruff and psoriasis. My vision is to continue creating products with real impact, both personally and socially.

What advice would you give your younger self?
Anju: Don’t worry about failure – it’s part of the next stage.

What advice would you give women wanting to follow your footsteps?
Anju: Just start. Many people have ideas but never execute them because of perfectionism. Start with a prototype – even on a low budget. We used crowdfunding on Indiegogo to test our business model, producing products only if there was enough interest. It’s valuable advice not enough people talk about.