NILA COLLECTION 2025
Inspired by the ancient Japanese craft philosophy of wabi-sabi.
We are proud to introduce our new collection in collaboration with Nila Jaipur; rooted in tradition, this collection is inspired by the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi. Exploring the beauty found in imperfection, traditional embroidery and patchwork techniques celebrate the experimental process shaped by wear and mending.
THE STORY OF NILA HOUSE
This collection forms part of the ongoing relationship between Bamford and Nila House, a centre for sustainable craft in Jaipur, founded by Carole Bamford. Nila is a reflection of Carole’s love for India, her lifelong passion for textiles and her belief in the importance of protecting heritage skills for the future.
With a vision rooted in sustainability, Nila House was created to be a space where artisans can teach, learn and collaborate. It serves as both a working studio and an educational platform, bringing together master craftspeople, designers and students to support the revival of India’s rich craft traditions.
Each piece in the collection is crafted by hand, honouring techniques that have been passed down through generations of Indian artisans. From intricate embroidery to natural dyeing, every detail speaks to a slower, more intentional way of making.
CRAFTED BY HAND, GUIDED BY TRADITION
The collection draws on age-old skills such as jaali embroidery, a delicate needlework technique that creates fine, lace-like patterns on fabric. Thought to have originated in Mughal India, this kind of craftsmanship requires not only technical skill but also time, patience and a deep knowledge, predominantly inherited through family and community.
Other pieces in the collection feature soft gathers, delicate patchwork and thoughtful layering — celebrating the marks of the maker and the character that comes from handwork. Inspired by the tradition of mending and reworking cloth, the designs embrace the beauty of imperfection and individuality.
NATURALLY DYED INDIGO
The collection’s palette is deeply connected to nature, with shades of rich indigo, softened sky blues and pure white evoking both land and sky. These colours are achieved through natural dyeing processes, rooted in centuries-old techniques that are still practised at Nila House today.
Indigo dyeing is one of the oldest known methods of colouring fabric, with a history in India that dates back over 4,000 years. At Nila, the dye is derived from the Indigofera tinctoria plant, grown without chemicals or synthetic inputs. The dyeing process itself is labour-intensive and entirely natural - the indigo leaves are fermented, transformed into pigment, and then used in a vat-dyeing method where fabrics are dipped and oxidised repeatedly to achieve the desired depth of colour. The result is a living colour that softens and evolves over time, reflecting the hands and environment that created it.
This collection is now available exclusively in store – shop now at:
Bamford Barn, Daylesford, Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 0YG
Bamford, 62 S Audley St, London W1K 2QN
