Raised under the intense Australian sun, where beach days and outdoor sport were a way of life, Sapphire Active Founder, Ashleigh Ross, found that melanoma awareness wasn’t always front of mind. What started as a personal reflection on a preventable risk has evolved into a brand grounded in purpose, empowering women to show up for themselves while actively supporting melanoma research. Through Sapphire Active, fitness meets intention, proving that even small organisations can contribute to something bigger.
What inspired you personally to support melanoma research? Do you have a personal connection to melanoma?
Growing up in Western Australia, sun exposure was just part of life with outdoor sport, beach weekends, working outside. It wasn’t something anyone thought twice about. And honestly, tanning was a culture in itself. Being tan was seen as healthy, attractive, something to chase. Nobody was talking about the damage underneath. Melanoma awareness is deeply personal to me because of that upbringing, and because I know how preventable so many cases are with the right education and early detection. When I was building Sapphire and thinking about the causes I wanted to stand behind, skin cancer research was an obvious one. Australia has one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world, and I want Sapphire to be part of changing that.
“I think there’s a real opportunity for brands in the wellness and activewear space to use their platform to educate, not just sell. That’s what this partnership means to me.”
What led you to start Sapphire Active, and what does the brand stand for?
I started Sapphire while working full time as an electrician. I’ve been training since I was 15, and I wanted to build something that reflected the way I actually live, working hard, staying disciplined, showing up. But more than that, I wanted to create a brand that genuinely encourages women to show up for themselves. To back themselves. To chase the best version of who they’re becoming, in the gym, in their careers, in their lives. Sapphire is built around the belief that when a woman feels good in what she’s wearing, she moves differently. She carries herself differently. Our tagline is ‘Move with purpose’ and that’s not just about fitness. It’s about living intentionally and knowing your actions matter. From day one, giving back has been structural to the brand, not an afterthought.
Why do you think melanoma awareness is especially important in Australia?
Because we live in one of the sunniest countries on earth and we still underestimate the risk. Melanoma is one of the most common cancers in Australia, and it disproportionately affects young people which is exactly the demographic Sapphire speaks to. I think there’s a real opportunity for brands in the wellness and activewear space to use their platform to educate, not just sell. That’s what this partnership means to me.
“Being tan was seen as healthy, attractive, something to chase. Nobody was talking about the damage underneath.”
How can small actions, like purchasing from purpose-driven brands, create real change?
Because scale compounds. One purchase is one contribution. But when a brand builds giving back into its DNA when every sale, every awareness post, every conversation moves something forward it adds up. Sapphire customers aren’t just buying leggings. They’re part of something. And I think people are hungry for that. They want to know their money is doing more than sitting in someone’s pocket.
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