Exploring Our Origins

Devinto is a conscious fashion label established in 2013 in Montreal by designer Aiste Zitnikaite.  Aiste was born in Lithuania and immigrated to Montreal with her mom when she was 12 years old. Growing up in, what at the time was Soviet Lithuania, Aiste watched her mom and aunties sew and knit - making many of the clothes the family wore because shopping for clothes was not really an option.  Her interest in fashion was born there. After high school, she studied fashion design at Lasalle College in Montreal. She spent several years working in Montreal’s fashion industry where she became much more aware of some of the problematic practices of main stream fashion brands.  The poor working conditions at overseas factories, the toxic pollution and waste that gravely impacted local communities left a heavy imprint on Aiste.  This is when her interest in fashion sustainability truly developed.  Aiste’s passion for a more sustainable alternative led her to seek out clothing that focused on ethical production but she found it hard to find designs that appealed to her aesthetic. She created DEVINTO to fill that gap in the market - a sustainable, ethically conscious slow fashion label that did not compromise style. The brand's specialty is in classic, elegant women’s wear that’s made to order (often custom made) from the studio using sustainable textiles. Inspired by duality, Aiste's design style can be described as feminine yet empowering, elegant yet defiant, simple but unique while remaining comfortable but presentable.  Aiste designs, patterns, cuts and sews every piece with longevity in mind.  With a taste for vintage and french fashion, DEVINTO has a timeless aesthetic and a conviction that while style should be accessible, fashion should not harm. Production is purposeful with  all designs being hand cut in small batches to minimize waste and overproduction. The customers are encouraged to reach out directly for more personalized design and fit. In the wake of mass produced fashion, Aiste aims to bring back a more personal connection to clothing - the way it was when she was growing up in Lithuania. DEVINTO is an homage to that memory - it means "on the ninth" in Lithuanian, the street address of her family home there and her grandmother's birthday.