NILE uses a wide range of sustainable materials, such as organic cotton, recycled cotton, TENCEL™, recycled viscose and others.

You can find out more about these versatile materials here (link to Materials page).

These materials can bring significant advantages in terms of the fit and dimensional stability of a garment, and they also increase the lifespan of your favorite piece. We always look for the most sustainable alternatives and use recycled nylon, for example.

NILE has been producing garments in Asia for over 14 years. Fair working conditions, a passion for sustainability and a love of craftsmanship are just as important to the partner companies we’ve chosen to work with as they are to us. It is noted on each garment in which country it was produced.

Thanks to our careful selection, regular inspections and site visits, and long-term business relationships, we ensure that our values and standards are always met at all of our production sites. This commitment also enables us to ensure a well-paid, safe and clean workplace, and our strict requirements allow us to meet high sustainability and quality standards.

Another important aspect is that many of our raw materials, such as organic cotton or other notions like zippers, come from Asia. The transport of these materials to Europe would also be necessary, to a large extent, if our garments were to be sewn in Europe.

However, there are also product groups that we have produced here in Europe, such as our belts, which are made in Germany. In 2022, we also started a collaboration with the LU Couture factory (near Lucerne, Switzerland), where garments are sewn out of leftover NILE fabric. LU Couture is committed to the future of the tailoring industry and trains ten young people to become state-certified clothing designers each year.

Find out more about the project.

GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) is an independent and international certification, and ensures especially high environmentally friendly standards along the entire textile production chain. From extracting the raw textile fibers to weaving, dyeing and sewing, through to labeling the final product and sales, the entire socially responsible production process is presented in a transparent and comprehensible way. Alongside environmental criteria, fair working conditions also have to be ensured.

No harmful chemicals are used in the cultivation of organic cotton. This means that organic farming doesn’t damage the soil, it generates fewer harmful emissions and requires, on average, 91% less water and 62% less energy than conventional cotton farming.

We distinguish between material certificates and working conditions.

Since we use a wide range of materials, the certifications are also very diverse. GOTS can be awarded to organic cotton but not to recycled nylon. However, we are constantly striving to obtain more certificates. For example, we are now certified not only for the Responsible Wool Standard, but also for the Responsible Mohair Standard.

In terms of working conditions, it is a standard prerequisite of ours that new suppliers can show that they meet the BSCI requirements.

We have a multi-step system in place for this.

As a basic requirement, all new suppliers must have passed a BSCI audit. During this audit, 10 performance criteria, such as occupational safety, working hours, wages, etc. are extensively scrutinized by external auditors. In addition, most suppliers get audited for further certifications.

Another step is that we regularly send staff to conduct on-site inspections at our production facilities. We place great emphasis on face-to-face and direct conversation, and always remain in close contact. Furthermore, our suppliers have to disclose their upstream suppliers and any other companies that are involved, such as laundry shops, so that we can monitor the entire supply chain.

Plastic packaging has been completely dispensed with, both in our online store and in our brick-and-mortar stores. Our impressive packaging set includes a cardboard box, paper mailing bag, reusable paper filler and tissue paper.

In addition, NILE sends all parcels via climate-neutral post and pays the appropriate surcharge for each parcel – with Swiss Post “pro clima” shipments in Switzerland and with UPS carbon neutral in the EU. Both companies invest this surcharge in selected climate projects or emissions certificates of a high standard. This means the carbon emissions are fully offset and the transport is climate neutral.