“Compassion is the real money” bamboo t-shirt by Anye. Design by Cajvanean Alexandru | Photo by Greer Tilford Model | Model: Michaella Shannon

Canadian FPMT student Ryan Wright recently launched Anye, a non-profit organization dedicated to having a direct positive social impact, particularly on young people. By offering “suffering-free” and fashionable graphic t-shirts and tank tops, Anye splits 100% of its profits between Tara Children’s Project, an orphanage run by FPMT center Root Institute for HIV-affected children and youth in Bodhgaya, India, and the Pundarika Humanitarian Foundation, a non-FPMT organization which provides education programs for women and girls from rural Nepal and Tibet. Although Anye’s current priority is its “heartcore” fashion line, the organization regularly does Lama Zopa Rinpoche-inspired animal liberations and has plans to start implementing meditation programs in Canadian high schools. Mandala asked Ryan a few questions about Anye’s evolution and future:

How did you come up with Anye? Is it just another fashion company?

The idea for Anye was conceived in 2011, while I was in Bodhgaya, India. I spent four months there that year in order to complete the preliminary practice of prostrations at Mahabodhi Temple. Notably, His Holiness the Dalai Lama came to Bodhgaya that year to give the Kalachakra, so it was a very inspiring time!

During those four months I was just so deeply inspired, both by the practice and by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and everything he does to benefit others! Some of that started to rub off on me I think. As the practice progressed, I really wanted nothing more than to commit my life to sustained, dedicated meditation practice and to being of service to others any way that I could. The idea for Anye just popped into my mind one day while on a break from practicing. It really began as a very simple notion: to promote altruism in the world.

Growing up, I had always appreciated “cool” and unique t-shirts. However, sadly, many t-shirt companies often fall short when it comes to production, not choosing environmentally friendly or “suffering-free” clothing to put their designs on. For this reason, our team decided that we would simply create our own distinct t-shirt line, shirts that we would be excited to walk around in and that are created in a socially and environmentally responsible way – Dharma inspired clothing, what we call “heartcore clothing.”

This also provided a unique opportunity to promote virtue, both through the designs (i.e., the messages on each shirt) and by donating profits to amazing, volunteer-run partner charities like the Tara Children’s Project.

What makes Anye’s clothes “suffering-free”?

I’ve read in several places that the textile industry is one of the largest contributors to global warming. Accordingly, all of our clothes are earth friendly (organic cotton, bamboo, etc.). As well, our clothing line is sweatshop-free and supports education programs for children in Asia.

Our clothing line was created with the sole purpose of being able to support children and youth from rural areas of India, Nepal, and Tibet, helping cover the costs of their schooling. By buying one of our garments, at the very least, you are sending a child to school for two weeks! Our customers actually get to pick the price they pay for our apparel, which determines how much we are then able to pass on to the education programs (e.g., sending a child to school for either two weeks, one month, or two months). Our model can be summed up as follows: make a donation, send a child to school, and receive any piece of Anye apparel as reward for your act of kindness and generosity.

Some of the children supported by Tara Children’s Project, Bodhgaya, India, March 2014. Photo by Andy Melnic.

Why Tara Children’s Project?

Tara Children’s Project is connected to the FPMT; it is an orphanage for children affected by HIV. Having HIV in a place like India, where there is still a lot of stigma and discrimination, can be pretty tough. India is so populated and if you have ever been then you know that people can often get left by the wayside there, especially if they are subject to poverty, lack familial support, or have a disability or chronic illness. Being an orphan with HIV is a pretty challenging spot to be in anywhere in the world, but especially in India!

Fortunately, antiretroviral medication is free there, which is amazing, but getting an education is really the most important chance the Tara Children’s Project children have to overcome the stigma they face. And so that’s where we are trying to help. We spoke with Andy Melnic, who is the project coordinator and who let us know this is where they could use some support.

At present, there are 22 children at Tara Children’s Project that we are working to cover the education costs for through Anye. Ideally, we would like to be able to send US$550 per month to them, which would cover the tuition for all of their children.

Keeping the focus on education, we also added the Pundarika Humanitarian Foundation as a second project we support because of the pioneering education programs they provide for young girls from Nepal and Tibet, girls who wouldn’t otherwise get a chance to go to school.

Children head to school on the bus that serves Tara Children’s Project and the Maitreya School. Photo courtesy of Anye.

Tell us about the animal liberations.

Our goal is to be of as much benefit as possible! Animal liberation is one of my favorite practices to do in Asia and so, after returning to the West, we just formalized that practice as part of what we do here too.

Importantly, our animal liberation efforts are peaceful, meaning we purchase the animals. We follow the advice of both Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Chatrul Rinpoche during our liberations. This involves a lot of prayers, prayers for the animals and their long lives, prayers for the upliftment of all life on this planet, prayers for the environment, etc. We also work hard to never buy from the same store/seller more than once so as not to create more of a market for the buying and selling of animals and insects and we always return the animals back to the same eco-system they came from. As an example, if liberating fish or lobsters we make sure to put them back in the ocean or lake they came out of. This is really important!

“Love to love” organic tank top by Anye.
Design by Giulio Rossi | Photo by Greer Tilford Model | Model: Rylan Schultz

How has the launch gone so far? What are the next steps?

Everything has been great so far. Many people seem to like what we are trying to do with the clothes. Starting a new brand can be a bit slow going at first, but we have lots of great design ideas and are excited about bringing these to life in the near future. Both volunteer-run organizations are doing such amazing work and our hope is simply to inspire others to get involved and help them out any way that they are able. This is the main focus of our clothing line. My hope is that Anye can eventually become a self-sustaining operation that continues to provide financial support to the children from Tara Children’s Project and the Pundarika Humanitarian Foundation year round.

Benefiting animals in any way possible is a priority for FPMT and one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for the organization. Both the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund and the Animal Liberation Fund support animal liberation activities around the world. 

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