FAQ

Q: Are your designs cultural appropriation?

A: NoMINoU collaborates with artists to create collectible, wearable art. We honour our artist partners with commission fees and/or royalties from each product sold, final design decision making, recognition on the garment’s hang-tag, and exposure on our website and social media. The finished products are ethically made in Canada, using fabrics made from post-consumer recycled BPA-free plastics, and printed with eco-friendly inks.

Cultural appropriation is defined as:

“The unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society.”

We offer material goods that align with our consumers’ value systems, including promoting equality, supporting culture, heritage, diversity, sustainability, and the health and wellness of the planet and its people. This ensures that there is no culture appropriation.

To learn more about purchasing authentic indigenous art, we would like to direct you to an article in The Discourse, an independent Canadian journalism company, written by Francesca Fionda & Zachary Kershman:

www.thediscourse.ca/urban-nation/buying-authentic-indigenous-art

Q: Why are your products so expensive?

A: When you purchase a piece from us, you invest in a business that operates here in Canada, from design to production. You support Canadian labour, international artists who receive commissions and royalties, and a female-owned and operated small business. Not only that, you help us reinvest your money in processes and materials that are truly sustainable: like fabric made from recycled water bottles and Tencel made from sustainably sourced wood – alternatives to cheap, chemical-infused practices that are harmful both to human health and our Earth. Our products are of high value from start to finish!

Q: What is ChitoSanté?

A: ChitoSanté is a new environmentally friendly treatment made from post-consumption shrimp and crab shells (EPA Certified). We use it as a natural finish for our leggings, capris, shorts and bras, which offers moisture wicking and anti-bacterial elements. It also adds a soft hand to the fabric.

Q: Are your products safe for people with shellfish allergies?

A: We have great news: according to the manufacturer’s information that we have on file, ChitoSanté is free from allergens, as the protein has been removed during the sterilization process. If you would like more information, here is a link to the papers: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22128651/#:~:text=Made%20from%20chitosan%2C%20a%20polysaccharide,reported%20shellfish%20allergy%20were%20recruited