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On a solo trip to India, Anaak founder Marissa Maximo had an epiphany: artisan apparel could give her the purpose and passion she’d been searching for.
Marissa Maximo remembers her mother calling her “Anaak,” the Filipino Tagalog word for “child.” For Maximo, that word held the possibility of freedom, joy and “wide-eyed wonder.” As an adult, she followed the thread of inspiration into textile design and creative direction for fashion brands, but it wasn’t until a trip to India’s remote southern coast that she began searching for ways to positively impact more people’s lives.
“I’ve been working with a women’s weaving cooperative in Central India since the beginning of Anaak,” Maximo says. “I’ve been amazed at the community the cooperative has created. I’ve seen these women grow as skilled artisans and evolve their craft over time.” Artisans in India, Bolivia and beyond make each piece from natural silk, cotton, wool and alpaca. There’s a handmade element in everything, whether a stitched embellishment or hand-blocked print. While craft techniques might be traditional, the aesthetic is simple and streamlined. Think breezy caftans, painterly smocks and gauzy, lightweight pants perfect for lounging.
Anaak founder Marissa Maximo
“IT’S AN EXCITING TIME. PEOPLE ARE DOING THEIR RESEARCH AND SHOPPING RESPONSIBLY.”
—marissa maximo