MISSION
Committed to empowering local craftspeople, especially disadvantaged women, and preserving ancient textile techniques through ongoing partnerships with non-profit organizations in India, Bolivia and beyond.
INTENT
Inspired by the inherent ease and approachability of bohemé dressing, Anaak is a collection of artfully relaxed pieces developed with a contemporary and streamlined silhouette. We have spent years scouring the globe for the purest materials and the highest quality craftsmanship, and, while modern in design, Anaak is made using traditional processes in the most sustainable way. By referencing the rich cultural history of cherished destinations, we aim to mindfully produce clothing that imbues a stylish ease, for wherever the day takes you…
FOUNDER & DESIGNER
Anaak derives its name from the Filipino dialect Tagalog’s word for “child”. A term of endearment bestowed upon founder and designer Marissa Maximo by her mother. It is also perfectly evocative of the feeling her line exudes—just like a child, joyfully open, unabashedly carefree and with a permanent sense of wide-eyed wonder.
Maximo has a studied background in painting and textile design and many years of experience in fashion. As a director of apparel textiles, she traveled for design inspiration and has worked with artisans across the globe to develop fabrics. This led Maximo to become a director of concept and color—strategizing brand trends, print and color direction and curating artist collaborations and pop-up shops for leading retailers. A solo trip to a secluded corner of India’s southern coast afforded her the opportunity to slow down and start thinking about a way to weave her travels and love for artisans into a more tangible and intimate story. And thus began the dream of Anaak.
DESIGN
Materials
Anaak collaborates directly with each and every worker and makes every effort to use natural fibers from cotton, wool, alpaca and silk. Our dyers use azo-free, eco-friendly vegetable dyes, spinners handloom organic fiber into yarn, printers block-print patterns by hand onto our fabrics and embroiderers stitch each of our garments with their distinctive patterns. Working in close proximity to where materials originate, we can engage in small-scale production and offer localized, ongoing business support.
One of our favorite fabrics is khadi, a traditional hand-spun and handwoven cotton cloth from India
In our effort to protect the environment, we use certified organic cotton fabrics whenever possible
The hand feel of our fabric is an important characteristic to our product, and we go through great strides to provide softness with gentle washing
Artistic detail is key – each piece features unique stitch-work, subtle embellishment or a handmade trim
Our labels are an expression of our storytelling - contrasting the unfinished raw materials with clean, elevated finishes
OUR People
CENTRAL INDIA WHO HAND-WEAVE
FABRICS FOR EACH SEASON.
Founded with a commitment to support the livelihood of artisans in rural areas, Anaak roots itself in direct trade with a hands-on approach to expand business opportunities within local communities in India, Bolivia and beyond. We personally visit each remote village and inspect working conditions. We focus on relationship building, particularly with women in rural areas, ensuring each worker receives fair compensation. We only work with people who share our values in creating garments ethically and sustainably. From time to time we partner with cooperatives, charitable trusts and NGO’s on collaborative projects. These partnerships are carefully chosen to aid greater outreach while promoting Anaak’s core values for a positive impact on the wider community.