‘Empowered, confident and … at home’ Fledgling clothing, jewelry pop-up retailer Anziety opens in-person store on Academy Road By: Aaron Epp Posted: 8:14 PM CDT Monday, Mar. 16, 2026

A splash of pink highlights the northeastern corner of Academy Road and Lanark Street in Winnipeg.

Anziety is opening its first brick-and-mortar store at 545 Academy Rd. this weekend. Natalie Riccardo started the clothing and jewelry retailer as an online business, and then began appearing at markets and pop-up events in a rosy booth. Now, the 22-year-old entrepreneur has a brightly painted flagship store to call her own.

It’s meant to be a place where beauty meets women’s wellness, Riccardo said. “I want this space to make you feel empowered, confident and just at home. (I want to tie) confidence and inner beauty together into a magical experience.”

Selling intimate apparel at a pop-up event can be tricky, Riccardo added. While she believes she’s mastered the art of making customers feel comfortable as they look for lingerie in public, she’s thankful they’ll now have access to onsite change rooms.

“Having an in-person store like this is just something I’ve always dreamed of,” she said. “It’s a big step for me.”

Riccardo started the business in 2019. She screenprinted T-shirts and hoodies and sold them online, using social media platforms such as TikTok to promote the brand.

She chose the name Anziety in an effort to normalize mental health conditions and unpleasant emotions, and as a way to encourage people to take care of themselves no matter how they’re feeling. The brand’s pink tones are meant to uplift.

Eventually, Anziety started offering intimate apparel and jewelry, designed by Riccardo and manufactured overseas. The business also sells a curated collection of clothing, jewelry and bath products by other makers, many of whom are Canadian.

After college, Riccardo ran Anziety as a side hustle while working as an esthetician. In 2023, she quit her job and jumped into the business full-time. Since then, she’s established a booth at The Forks and a kiosk at CF Polo Park, and has appeared at markets across North America.

“We have put so much effort into making every single little detail perfect.”

When customers visit the flagship store, they’ll walk into a main room where they’ll find the loungewear, dresses, handbags and jewelry that Anziety has been offering online for the last few years.

Additionally, customers will find items from three other local businesses: vintage clothing from Hippie Thrift, vintage watches from Outerpiece and charm bracelets and necklaces from Au Naturale.

The intimate apparel is in a smaller room on the side so customers can browse in privacy.

The grand opening weekend starts when the doors open at 10 a.m. Saturday. There will be a ribbon-cutting at 11 a.m., treats from local pop-up dessert shop Melted, and the first 40 customers who spend more than $75 will receive a special gift bag. The festivities continue Sunday.

After that, Anziety will be open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“We have put so much effort into making every single little detail perfect,” said Riccardo, whose staff includes three full- and six part-time employees. “It’s been a wild ride.”

During that wild ride, her Red River Métis community has helped her.

Riccardo’s received financial support and training from Louis Riel Capital Corp., an affiliate of the Manitoba Métis Federation, since starting the business (specifically, the Métis Women Entrepreneurship Program).

“They have supported me throughout this journey,” Riccardo said. “It has allowed me to stick to my roots and to build my dream business on Red River Métis land, and that is so special.”

The Louis Riel Capital Corp. has supported 34 women entrepreneurs this fiscal year (April 1, 2025, to date) with $820,506 in non-repayable grants and $1.96 million in loans, said Lorne Pelletier, MMF senior economic adviser.

“Natalie’s an incredible entrepreneur, and has a great following and lots of interest in her products,” Pelletier said. “Louis Riel Capital Corporation has been pleased to support her.”

As she prepares to open Anziety’s storefront, Riccardo is feeling a mixture of excitement and, perhaps appropriately, anxiety.

“I’m the most scared I’ve ever been since I started,” she said. “(I’m) just accepting those feelings and being like, here we go.”

aaron.epp@freepress.mb.ca