Toronto's first-ever 100% Indigenous-owned department store closing with huge sale
Toronto's first-ever 100% Indigenous-owned department store, aaniin, is closing its doors for good. In a final act of giving back, the company is liquidating all its inventory, with proceeds going directly to the Indigenous community.
The retailer, known for its wide range of apparel, accessories, jewellery and beauty products, started as an online shop five years ago. In 2023, aaniin expanded into a brick-and-mortar store at STACKT Market, along with additional pop-ups at major malls like Eaton Centre and Square One.
From the very beginning, aaniin has been more than just a store and has also served as a platform for other Indigenous brands with the goal of boosting representation in Toronto.
Now, the journey is coming to an abrupt end. An official Instagram post confirmed the closure and announced a site-wide 60 per cent off sale.
While the company hasn't provided a specific reason for shutting down, aaniin's closure follows a wave of other small business shutdowns across the city. Rising inflation and rent costs have made it increasingly difficult for many retailers to stay afloat and thrive in this current economic climate.
Although a closing date has not been confirmed, the company's aggressive social media push to clear inventory points to an imminent shutdown. blogTO reached out to the aaniin team for comment, but they were unavailable at the time of publication.
The department store has long been a hub for Indigenous-owned brands, featuring names like Bastien, Mitsoh, and Urban Native Era. In total, the marketplace showcases 13 Indigenous brands, and shoppers can now take advantage of a 60 per cent off sale to stock up on their favourites. The sale is available online or in person.
aaniin is located at 5501-28 Bathurst St.
aaniin Retail Inc.
