We recently connected with Shezal Babar and have shared our conversation below.

Shezal, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

While I had been thinking about starting a similar business for years, I came up with the idea specifically for SAÉA in August last year. This was a period in my life where I had hit rock bottom mentally and physically. I had undergone significant health issues and took some time off from work. For some reason, during this time I felt the urge to create – maybe I felt that a creative outlet would help me feel better.

I was already thinking about Pakistan a lot during this time, because that is where I’m originally from before I moved away 12 years ago. I grew up in Islamabad, Pakistan and spent many summers in the Himalayan mountains where my grandmother had a home. I missed home, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how lucky I was to grow up with such rich natural beauty all around me, and to now live in California, where I’m also blessed to be surrounded with it.

I wanted to not only create something beautiful and meaningful, but also have it connected to my home country of Pakistan. Sitting on my couch, I took my iPad and started sketching some designs for Onyx based decorative art objects. Onyx-carving is a centuries old tradition in Pakistan & the Indian subcontinent at large, but the province of Balochistan in Pakistan is rich with some of the most beautiful and unique shades of it in the world. During this time, I can’t explain why I chose Onyx. I just believed that it is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. It’s veins, color hues, and translucency truly makes it the most beautiful natural material in the world to me.

However, I felt that what was being created in Pakistan during that time was generic — it all looked the same and was full of polish, giving it a shiny look that I didn’t connect with. I wanted to create something raw and organic, completely polish and chemical free. Just the stone and the hands that carve it — nothing else. I knew that Pakistani stone carving artisans are extremely skilled and also wanted to create something novel in terms of the design style and shapes — I believed in their ability to challenge themselves to create something new. The only problem was no one ever really asked them to.

With all of this in my head, I drew some sketches and realized I’m on to something. That was the beginning of SAÉA’s journey.

Shezal, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

SAÉA is a design brand that specializes in decorative art objects handcrafted from pure onyx stone sourced from Balochistan, blending beauty with function. We live in a world where we are constantly inundated with external stressors, and my pieces are designed to bring a grounded sense of calm, presence, and quiet luxury into the spaces we inhabit. Each object is meant to serve as a tactile reminder to slow down, breathe deeper, and reconnect—with ourselves, with our homes, and with the natural world.

What sets SAÉA apart is our stunning designs which are unlike anything you’ve ever seen before and our focus on sustainability—we refuse to use any toxic polish or chemicals on our designs, coating them only with a layer of food grade beeswax. This allows us to enhance the stone’s stunning colors and veins, while preserving their raw, natural, and matte finish. This is why my pieces look as unique as they do. Our packaging is also 100% recyclable or compostable—we are completely plastic free.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I spent almost a decade in the corporate world before I launched SAÉA. I worked at some of the largest tech companies—places people dream of landing—but over time, I found myself feeling deeply disconnected. On paper, everything looked perfect: a great salary, impressive title, career momentum. But inside, I felt drained. I was pouring so much of myself into building other people’s visions while ignoring my own.

That disconnect became louder over time, especially as I began to crave a more grounded, intentional way of living. I wanted to create something real—something that aligned with my values, honored my heritage, and allowed me to express myself creatively.

The real pivot happened when I finally gave myself permission to leave. I walked away from the safety and prestige of my corporate role and decided to invest in a slower, more meaningful path. That leap led to the birth of SAÉA.

Starting this brand was both terrifying and liberating. I had no roadmap—just a deep belief in what I was creating: sculptural, sustainable design objects that bring calm and connection into people’s homes. SAÉA is rooted in everything I used to suppress in my past life: my cultural identity, my love for aesthetics, my desire to live intentionally.

That pivot wasn’t just a career change. It was a full-life reset, and I’ve never felt more aligned.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

Yes, I partner with a local manufacturer in Pakistan who manages my team of artisans. The story of how I found him is a learning experience in itself.

When I decided to focus on onyx, I began by researching manufacturers in Pakistan who were already working with the stone and had experience exporting. I compiled a shortlist and began reaching out, interviewing each one about how they source their materials, how artisans are paid, and what the production process looks like. I wanted to ensure everything aligned with my values: ethical, sustainable, and rooted in craft.

One of these contacts—let’s call him Ali—happened to be visiting San Francisco, where I was living at the time. We met in person, and the meeting went really well. He seemed confident in his ability to bring my vision to life and aligned with the direction I wanted to take.

At the same time, I was also speaking to another manufacturer, Kasim, who had already begun creating samples. While the first pieces weren’t perfect, he was incredibly responsive, took in all my feedback, and was willing to iterate quickly and carefully. He seemed genuinely committed to getting it right.

Then something unexpected happened. Kasim told me that someone from Ali’s team had come to his workshop with my designs, asking if they could replicate them. Kasim immediately recognized the pieces as mine and refused. He told the team that he would not reproduce someone else’s designs without permission. And then he told me everything.

That moment taught me one of the biggest lessons in business: trust is everything.

Ali broke my trust by sharing my work without consent. Kasim, on the other hand, proved his integrity through honesty and transparency. From that point forward, the choice was clear.

Kasim is now my trusted manufacturing partner, and we’ve built something meaningful together based on mutual respect, consistent communication, and shared values.

The biggest lesson? Pay attention to how people move when no one is watching. In manufacturing—and in life—character will always matter more than charisma.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://saeadesigns.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saeadesigns/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shezalbabar/
• Other: Etsy — https://www.etsy.com/shop/SAEASustainableDecor

Image Credits

NA (I took these)