CLOSURE: Indigenous-owned retailer shutting down online storefront with huge closing sale

A brand that made a splash by opening the first all-Indigenous department store at the Eaton Centre in Toronto has announced they’re now pivoting away from their online storefront and having a closing sale with 60 per cent markdowns.

Aaniin is an Indigenous-led and women-led streetwear brand that sells their own apparel, but over the years and through their all-Indigenous department store pop-up at the Eaton Centre in Toronto they’ve also become so much more than that, platforming and incubating other Indigenous businesses along the way.

“Every conversation starts with aaniin, and now after five years of starting the conversation on Indigenous languages and syllabics, aaniin Retail Inc. is pivoting away from the online storefront and back to the conversation as we face a lack of institutional investment for women-led businesses,” reads a social media post from Aaniin.

“Support our transition and the artisans we’ve walked with by shopping our site-wide liquidation sale at the link in bio—the mission to scale the Indigenous economy is just getting started.”

 

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A post shared by aaniin retail inc. (@aaniin.hello)

The post on social media has over 500 likes on Instagram and around 50 comments.

“I am so sorry to read this. I’m a huge supporter of your brand and I’ll make more purchases to help you clear out your stock,” reads a comment on Instagram. “I have an indigenous healing centre and my landlord increased my triple net 156,000% this year which is making me have to close my doors as well. It’s so hard to have a cultural and value based business in this colonizer’s world.”

“I loved this store so much and wearing your pieces to work at my school,” one commenter wrote. “They have started so many conversations with students and staff and will continue to. Can’t wait for the next chapter.”

“Who do I need to write letters to? Seriously. This is heartbreaking to hear,” someone else commented on the Instagram post. “I support you and honestly I’m an introvert unless I’m wearing Aaniin and all of a sudden I’m making people scan the QR code I’m wearing when they ask what my sweatshirt means.”

The social media post from Aaniin delves into more specifics on why they’re shutting down the online storefront.

“While Aaniin has been blessed with a generous following, the systemic support needed to keep a for-profit Indigenous business running has been missing,” reads the post.

The Aaniin online storefront is 60 per cent off site-wide while supplies last.