100% Indigenous owned retailer.

It All Started with a Triangle

One Sunday afternoon, Chelsee Pettit was walking through downtown Tkaronto when she spotted someone wearing a shirt with what she thought were Indigenous syllabics. She lit up with excitement—it’s not every day you see something like that in the city! She couldn’t stop thinking: What does it say? What language is it in? And of course, where can I get one?

Filled with curiosity and hope, she walked over to ask about the shirt, eager to hear the story behind it. But as she got closer, she realized it wasn’t syllabics at all—it was just a triangle.

That moment stayed with her, not as a disappointment, but as inspiration.

It made her think: Why isn’t it normal to see Indigenous languages on clothing? Why don’t we take up more space in everyday life? And that’s when the idea for aaniin was born.

Chelsee set out to create a brand that would reclaim space for Indigenous languages and spark meaningful conversations. Every design does just that—boldly showcasing Indigenous culture, languages, and stories, putting them front and center where they belong.

What began as a solo streetwear brand quickly grew into a thriving platform for showcasing Indigenous culture, languages, and stories. Chelsee opened her first space at Stackt Market in Toronto, where she not only sold her own designs but also brought together other Indigenous brands to share their work in a collaborative retail setting. During this time, she introduced Business Development Days—a chance for Indigenous entrepreneurs to gather, learn, and grow together by tackling real challenges like pricing strategies, inventory management, and supply chains.

From there, aaniin expanded to larger spaces, including a successful holiday pop-up at Square One Mall in Mississauga. This growth culminated in hosting Canada’s first 100% Indigenous-owned Department Store at Toronto Eaton Centre in a 6,500 sq. ft. space. The event brought together over 45 Indigenous-owned businesses, giving them a platform to shine in the busiest retail environment in the country.

Over the years, aaniin has created meaningful opportunities for dozens of Indigenous staff members and has funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars into the Indigenous economy. Through wholesale, consignment, contractors, and partnerships, along with collaborations with Indigenous brands from across Turtle Island, aaniin has become a powerful vehicle of economic activity within Indigenous communities - The one stop shop for authentic Indigenous businesses that are Indigenous owned.

As aaniin continues to grow, it remains rooted in a commitment to keeping the business 100% Indigenous-owned. Every step forward is a step toward reclaiming space, rewriting narratives, and ensuring Indigenous stories are front and center—exactly where they belong.

Stay tuned as aaniin builds on this momentum, taking bold steps to bring its vision to more communities across Canada.