A bit about নিলি
‘Yllin is always fun even when simple, I want each piece you wear to bring a smile to your face’
Hi, my name is Nilyma (Nilly for short), I am a British Bengali slow fashion designer who likes to make playful things.
I create clothing & accessories from deadstock fabrics, thrifted pieces and rescued materials that people did not want, I also try to use materials from small and local business in Portugal.
Yllin in pronounced Yi-Lin and its essentially Nilly (নিলি) backwards. As of late 2023 Yllin is now based in Alentejo, Portugal so all orders are handmade and shipped from here.
A little story behind Yllin
I started making clothes for myself at the age of 14, back in 2004. At the time I found clothing to be quite flat and simple, and I wanted to wear more exciting shapes. I began by cutting up sarees and turning them into salwar kameezes or floaty dresses. I was obsessed with the movement in clothing and how fabric felt.
When I moved to London, I discovered what fashion could be. I was exposed to different styles from different cultures, Western fashion with real personality, and a creative fashion scene that felt endlessly inspiring.
Now, living in the Portuguese countryside, my approach continues to evolve. I usually start with the fabrics I find, then decide what would be beautiful to make, Sometimes it's just one piece, sometimes it's many.
Every piece is handmade by me with care and intention. Because I work with vintage and second-hand fabrics, slight imperfections may be present. These marks are part of the material's history and character. Whenever flaws appear, I restore each fabric as much as possible, focusing on reducing waste and giving materials a second life.
Creating the content for the brand is also just me, so Yllin is very much a one-woman production :)
As my brand grows I want to be able to do more in this world and give back as much help as I can to those who need it as I wouldn’t be where I am today with out the help of others. Thank you for supporting my brand and my work, sometimes I can’t believe there’s people out there wearing clothing I made so I am forever grateful to those who by Yllin as they all remind me to never give up on myself.
All fabrics are thoughtfully sourced, including local textiles, deadstock, vintage pieces, and upcycled interior fabrics. Through my work, I also hope to support other small businesses and keep valuable materials in circulation.
Thank you for stopping by.
