Simply put, the word, "Nīla" (pronounced neela; நீலா; नीला; നീല), means the colour blue. For us, however, it is so much more than that. We believe that Nīla conveys an emotion, a state of mind even. A moment of peace, a pause, an escape from the chaos of the everyday. ​ Born during the pandemic, Nīla is a quest for tranquility. For the founders of the brand, Pritika and Shwetha, the ocean was an important source of inspiration in this quest. Specifically, they were inspired by the sense of calm and reverie that comes from being out at sea. These sensibilities inform the design philosophy behind the brand. Thus, the blue of the sea gives us our name, Nīla.

Yes, Nīla is a completely vegan brand. No animal products were used in creating our products.

We, at Nīla, aim to produce products that are completely sustainable and eco-friendly. As we pride ourselves on being transparent, however, we must also mention the following realities that impact how sustainable our products actually are. The main material used in our products is cork. Manufactured in Portugal, cork fabrics are vegan, eco-friendly and usually carbon negative (as cork generally consumes more CO2 than the emissions produced during the manufacturing process). However, the eco-friendliness of the final product is impacted by the addition of other materials which may not be as sustainable as cork itself. Though our key raw material is sustainable in itself, factors like the emissions produced during transport must also be considered while evaluating sustainability. However, these emissions are unavoidable as cork is largely produced in the Mediterranean region and cannot be sourced locally. We generally use cotton or recycled polyester as lining in our products. However, every small part of our products may not be completely eco-friendly. In such cases, we are still looking for more efficient and eco-friendly alternatives. While these factors are to be considered while evaluating the impact of our products, it must also be mentioned that despite minor shortcomings, our products are still far less harmful than animal or synthetic leather products available in the market today. Additionally, we also seek to keep improving our products to meet the needs of our consumers and the planet itself, and to this end, we remain open to feedback and suggestions.

Our products are manufactured using cork fabrics as the key raw materials. Cork is our material of choice due to its unique characteristics, especially in relation to sustainability. However, it is not possible to source cork from India at present as cork oak trees suitable for cork production are not grown here. Such trees are primarily cultivated in the western Mediterranean region. We source our cork from our suppliers in Portugal who harvest cork responsibly from the Portuguese Montado (a delicate and protected cork oak forest ecosystem) once in every 9 years.

Though used in several similar applications, cork and leather are fundamentally different from each other. Leather is produced from animal hide which is then dyed and tanned. Animal hide may be acquired as a by-product of the meat and dairy industries. However, in many cases, animals are killed for their hide to meet the growing demands of the human population and also for producing exotic leathers like snake and crocodile leather. Furthermore, modern industrial leather production is rife with with animal waste run off, chemical pollution, and dangerous working conditions. On the other hand, cork is a natural, vegan and eco-friendly material, approved by PETA. Cork is just as durable as leather and is also elastic, lightweight, water resistant, fire resistant, non-toxic, hypoallergenic, recyclable, and has good acoustic and thermal insulation properties. Cork also has a unique aesthetic which lasts for a long time. So, cork matches up to all the positive aspects of leather without the cruelty or the ethical shortcomings.

Cork is the outermost homogenous layer that grows around the trunk of the cork oak tree (Quercus Suber) that mostly grows in the southwest Europe and northwest Africa regions. This layer is removed from the tree without harming it and then processed. Done only by the experts, the harvesting of cork takes place during the active growth season. A period of at least 9 years is required between harvests to ensure that the bark reaches the right thickness. This process of harvesting also helps the tree absorb carbon dioxide, offsetting millions of tons of carbon dioxide every year.

After the bark is removed from the tree, it is laid out to dry for about 6 months. Next, the cork is boiled, flattened and rolled into fabrics. A backing is added to the fabrics to make them more elastic and durable. These fabrics may also be dyed using plant-based dyes in a range of colours.

Cork is the definition of low maintenance. In addition to being completely vegan, cork is also lightweight, waterproof, fire resistant, hypoallergenic, anti-fungal and non-toxic.

The backing material used in our cork fabrics is composed of 30% cotton and 70% recycled polyester. The fabrics are eco-friendly, ecological, sustainable and compliant with European REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) regulations.

The cork fabrics we use in our products carry the following certifications: RAL (German quality control certification) RAL certification ensures that wooden products and structures are CO2-neutral compliant and provide adequate thermal insulation. APCOR Certification (Portuguese Cork Association) APCOR is the employers’ association of the cork sector that represents, promotes, divulges and carries out research in the Portuguese cork industry. APCOR certification ensures competitiveness and is a key factor for success. It works to stimulate continuous improvement in companies and is proof of confidence in the product for clients and consumers. PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) PETA guarantees animals and their ecosystems are protected and preserved through sustainable practices and recommendations. PETA deems cork “ […] a sustainable, stylish, and animal-friendly solution”.

Like most materials, cork will collect dust over a period of time. Not to fret though, simply wipe down the product with a damp cloth or mild detergent when required.

Yes, we ship to all locations within India.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer international shipping at present. However, we hope to provide this service in the near future. Watch this space!

Our standard delivery orders are dispatched within 5–7 business days from the date of receipt of the order.

Our packaging has been designed to reflect our brand ethos of sustainability and care for the planet, just like our products. As a policy, we package our products without any plastic. Our products are placed in a cloth dust bag and wrapped in paper bubble wrap which are then placed in a recyclable mailer box and sealed with paper tape. Even our hang tags and cards are printed on recycled paper. ​ In some cases, our delivery partners may use some external plastic packaging which we are unable to avoid at present. However, please rest assured that we will continue to work with our partners to minimise such occurrences.

Shipping within India is charged at a flat rate of ₹150 for orders below ₹2,500. All orders above ₹2,500 are shipped free of charge within India.

In case of cancellation, please mail us at support@thenilalife.com within 24 hours of placing the order. In case of cancellation, credit note of the full order value will be mailed to you, with a validity period of six months.

We offer returns only in the case of faulty or damaged items.

In the rare case that you do find any workmanship issues or damage on the product, we could offer you a replacement or a credit note, but not a cash refund. Please write to us at support@thenilalife.com with your order number and photographs of the damaged piece(s) within 3 days of receiving your order so that we can further investigate the issue and resolve the issue.

Refunds may be provided in the form of replacements or credit notes (with a validity period of six months) for the same product value, but we do not offer cash refunds.

In the case of a replacement, it will be dispatched within 5 working days.

No, as a policy, we do not provide cash refunds.

In case you opt for credit, you will receive a credit note within 2 working days.

You can use any discount codes or credit notes by entering the code at the Payment page while placing the order on our website. Only one code can be applied at a time. Discount codes and credit notes can only be used on purchases on the Nīla website. They are not applicable on Nīla products bought offline or through third party vendors. Credit notes generally have a validity period of six months.

Orders placed using credit notes are not eligible for returns.

Credit notes are only applicable on products, and do not cover shipping charges. If the final cart value is below ₹2,500, a flat shipping cost of ₹150 will be applied.

Only one code at a time can be applied for an order. Discount codes and credit notes cannot be combined.

Yes, we do! Gift your loved ones the power of choice with our Gift Cards. Our gift cards come with a validity period of twelve months from the date of purchase. These cards can be redeemed against purchases made on our website.

Of course we do, thank you for considering us! For more information, please visit our Corporate Gifting page. We look forward to hearing from you.

We're happy to customise any of our products for you in any colour from our existing colour range. Please write to us at support@thenilalife.com with your preferred colour and we would love to make it for you. An additional charge of ₹300 will apply on colour customisation. For any other types of customisation, please write to us at support@thenilalife.com with your detailed requirements. We would love to work with you to create the product that you desire. Please note that the price will vary according to the product design and material consumption.

We would be more than happy to work with you! Write to us at support@thenilalife.com regarding your project and we can make this happen together!

Discounts are only applicable on purchases on the website. Offline orders and custom orders are not eligible for sale.