Remaking Tradition with Style
Anita Dickens
Owner, ANe CLOTHIER
The minute you walk into ANĒ CLOTHIER, you realize it’s not just a store; it’s a story. Mid-century modern furniture and an assembly of antique clocks and musical instruments serve as a backdrop to beautifully tailored shirts, pants and jackets. The clothing and design are an inventive representation of gender neutral fashion.
Designer Anita Dickens was always attracted to fashion, but not in the traditional way. She gravitated to the men’s department, especially drawn to the types of clothes the men were not wearing. She would capture those pieces, bring them into her collection, and add her own sense of style. Gender neutral fashion is at the forefront now, but Anita was chasing that vision years before it became popular.
Her ability to reimagine clothing means that sustainability is a cornerstone of her brand. Always a passionate vintage clothes shopper, she has reworked many a varsity jacket or denim piece into a fresh and modern look. She loves the hunt for historic clothing; then she brings her inspiration to reworking or repurposing it.
Just as she reinvents clothes, she has reinvented herself. After getting her Masters in Public Administration at Rutgers, she worked for the state, but felt the draw of design and fashion calling her. That dream, sparked by her own unique fashion sense—and by growing up in a household with a seamstress—eventually brought her creativity full circle. Hence the name of her collection: Full Circle.
“We know that some people feel Newark is not a safe place, but we want them to know that it’s okay to come here, it’s okay to start your business here, it’s okay to live here.”
ANĒ CLOTHIER shares the space with Off the Hanger; both lines are an expression of Newark’s resiliency and style. Hoodies and tee shirts proclaim, “Newark Versus Everybody,” a statement of the pride they feel in their city and a way to encourage people to follow their dreams. Anita makes it clear that starting their brand here is a way of saying, “We know that some people feel Newark is not a safe place, but we want them to know that it’s okay to come here, it’s okay to start your business here, it’s okay to live here.” Customers who shop here can be proud to be a part of that.
Anita’s pride in her city’s background includes Newark’s place in music history. Her store’s design incorporates musical instruments, posters of musicians, and lots of classic vinyl.
Anita’s favorite place for music:
Newark’s own radio station, WBGO, and NJPAC.