Aiki District: Ani top

Sustainable women’s clothing line explores ethical fashion

By Naomi Ambrose, Staff writer

Aiki District, a Vancouver-based contemporary women’s clothing line, is on a mission to make fashionable clothing while also protecting the environment.

An excerpt from Aiki District’s website states that all of Aiki District’s clothing is “sustainably and ethically made in Vancouver.” By taking a closer look at the brand’s popular Ani top, we can see how Aiki District showcases its sustainable clothing ethos.

Information retrieved from the brand’s website states that this top is made from a “soft linen.” As it turns out, linen isn’t all that bad for the environment. As stated in a Good On You article by Clare Newman, “Linen is one of the most biodegradable and stylish fabrics in fashion history.”

According to a Marie Claire article, the Ethical Fashion Forum—a collaborative movement founded in 2006 by a group of fashion entrepreneurs and business owners from four continents—suggests that a clothing or fashion brand creates sustainable clothing by prioritizing “eco-friendly fabrics and components.”

Beyond being environmentally friendly, the design of the Ani top is also aesthetically nice. The top is simple and white. It’s simple in the sense that it doesn’t appear to have any rhinestones, sequins, or any other elaborate embellishments. Adding these extra items would most likely counter the biodegradable aspect. The top’s cut also illustrates a unique interpretation of conserving cloth. The front side of the top is long, while the back is shorter.

Unfortunately, the Ani top is $295. Perhaps Aiki District could persuade post-secondary students to wear their sustainable clothing if their prices were less costly. However, this doesn’t seem to be hurting them—as the Ani top is currently sold out.

Nonetheless, kudos to Aiki District for showing some concern for the environment and embracing the eco-friendly material that is linen!