This story originally appeared on Village Life's sister site, TorontoToday.ca.
The Eaton Centre is about to see the launch of a new, entirely Indigenous-owned pop-up department store, called aaniin.
Just in time for the holiday season, aaniin will sell a curated selection of goods sourced from notable Indigenous-owned businesses across Canada. Be it apparel and accessories, jewellery, books or home items, aaniin is going to be a one-stop shop for it all.
In a press release, store owners said aaniin, which means “hello” in Ojibwe, “welcomes everyone to experience Indigenous creativity and entrepreneurship in a new way.”
The store was founded by Chelsea Pettit and is the only 100 per cent Indigenous-owned department store in Canada.
On her Instagram account, Pettit called the Eaton Centre location the brand’s “biggest pop-up yet.”
Pettit, who is Anishinaabe and a member of Aamjiwnaang First Nation, invited over 40 Indigenous-owned businesses and brands to sell their products in the new store.
“This store is all about celebrating Indigenous creativity, and we’ve made supporting our community easier than ever in a way that’s powerful, accessible, and inclusive,” Pettit said of the opening.
The 6,500-square foot store will be located on the second floor of the Eaton Centre, beside Aritzia. Aaniin will open on Black Friday, Nov. 29, and remain until Dec. 31.
Notable brands to be featured in the aaniin Eaton Centre pop-up include Cheekbone Beauty Cosmetics, Lesley Hampton, Urban Native Era and Mini Tipi.
