Redefining Outdoorwear for Women
Style led performance wardrobe
“The outdoors should be accessible; a place where women feel free, safe and confident,” says Kasia Bromley, the founder of ACAI Outdoorwear, who envisaged a female-focused outdoor brand that supported women to get into nature.
Kasia’s dream was to create inclusively sized performance wear made specifically for the female form. She imagined collections that would make women look and feel great, but where performance wasn’t sacrificed for style with clothes that could stand up to weather, wear and tear.
Kasia’s journey into the world of women’s clothing started studying womenswear at Edinburgh College of Art. After graduating she worked at legendary fashion house Alexander McQueen, where she was integral in the creation of Sarah Burton’s iconic ‘Butterfly Dress’. But following a move to Scotland and a role with a men’s sportswear brand, Kasia’s journey changed course.
Rooted in Nature
“After moving to Scotland I made the most of having the Highlands on my doorstep. However, I quickly found that my freedom to enjoy the world on my doorstep was impacted by the clothes I was wearing. I’d feel too cold, too hot or get wet; I’d have snagged my clothes; and I’d have no pockets for my phone and keys. I became increasingly frustrated that my wardrobe wasn’t supporting my outdoor lifestyle.”
With her knowledge of garment design, Kasia could see that the outdoor clothing industry was letting women down: “What manufacturers were doing was ‘shrink and pink’. Taking their men’s outdoor ranges, making them smaller, and swapping them to a girly colour so as to appeal to women.”
“I knew women deserved better. That it was possible to develop a range that encompassed style, performance and comfort… so I set out to become a change-maker in the outdoor clothing space.”
Creating an Adventure Wardrobe
Alongside her co-founder and husband Joe Bromley, Kasia set about building a brand which would fill a gaping hole in the women’s clothing market.
ACAI was born from a vision of creating an adventure wardrobe for women, with features required to be fit for purpose in the outdoors, as well as style, modern colours and versatility.
“Inclusivity has, and always will be, an ACAI hallmark,” says Kasia. “Our sizing reflects the diversity of women’s shapes, giving the wearer confidence through superior fit. The cut of the cloth is our point of difference; shaped to fit the female form and create flattering silhouettes.”
Starting with the Skinny Outdoor Trousers, the positive reviews for ACAI’s inaugural piece came flooding in.
Made for Adventure
ACAI launched online in 2017 and today celebrates a diverse collection of active outdoor clothing for women.
The brand is on a mission to change the landscape of women’s hiking wear, designing purposeful clothing that’s shaped for women and made for adventure.
The future will see ACAI build on this success with an ever-expanding wardrobe to inspire women to get outdoors, and give them the confidence and support to do so.
“Our brand offers the magical combination of performance and fit, with style and shape delicately embedded into each and every garment,” says Kasia.
“We’re creating a growing community of women owning their space in the outdoors.”