Akoya was born from a deeply personal journey, one shaped by strength, vulnerability, and the unwavering belief that comfort can be both functional and beautiful.
When our founder, Chelle, was diagnosed with breast cancer, she quickly discovered that while she received an abundance of medical information, there was little guidance on how to feel like herself throughout treatment and recovery.
Before surgery Chelle was kindly gifted bags to wear over her shoulders to carry the surgical drains. Whilst deeply grateful, she couldn’t help but wish for something more discreet and secure. Something that would safely hold the drains, and help her feel as normal as possible.
Something as simple as finding sleepwear that supported surgical drains, felt gentle on sensitive skin, and offered dignity in vulnerable moments proved incredibly difficult.
With the help of her mum, the first pair of modified pyjamas was created. Soft, thoughtful, and practical. A quiet form of strength stitched into every seam.
What started as a personal solution soon became so much more. Those pyjamas offered Chelle not just physical comfort, but also a renewed sense of confidence and reassurance during one of the most vulnerable times of her life. From this experience, Akoya Clothing was created!
Made for moments, all of them
Akoya began with a desire to help women navigating breast cancer, and that purpose remains at our core.
We soon realised that the comfort we were creating held meaning far beyond recovery. Every woman moves through seasons where softness matters. Akoya evolved with that understanding, to hold women through the tender, the ordinary, and everything in-between.
Healing doesn’t only happen in hospitals.
Softness is needed in many seasons of life.
And every woman deserves to feel held, seen, and supported.
Today, Akoya offers two thoughtful designs:
one with discreet internal pockets for post-surgery support, and
one without, for everyday comfort and care.
Because whether you are recovering from surgery, experiencing a season of emotional rest, or simply craving comfort at the end of the day… you deserve to feel wrapped in softness and quiet luxury.
The name Akoya was chosen with deep intention.
Akoya pearls are created when an irritant enters the shell. In response, the shell doesn’t reject the irritant, instead it transforms it, layer by layer, into something beautiful, strong, and timeless. Each pearl is unique, no two pearls are the same, just like each woman’s journey through breast cancer.
This process mirrors what so many women face during and after breast cancer. The challenges we endure don’t define us; they shape us, making us stronger and more radiant than before. Akoya Clothing is a tribute to that transformation, unique to each woman—an acknowledgment that even through hardship, there is beauty, resilience, and grace.
Our Mission
To offer sleepwear that honours both comfort and dignity, garments created with thoughtful detail, gentle fabrics, and a deep understanding of what it means to care for yourself through life’s tender chapters.
To stand beside women facing breast cancer, and all women seeking rest and restoration.
Giving back is stitched into who we are. With every purchase, you help support Mater Chicks in Pink, funding practical patient care and vital breast cancer research, and the Quiet Courage Foundation, offering heartfelt, hands-on support to people navigating all forms of cancer.