FAQs
This textile gets its name from the time of its origin when Western Orissa was undivided and called Sambalpur. Although it is popularly known as Sambalpuri Ikat, it is still referred to as 'Bandha' by the rural artisan communities, which means 'to tie'.
Sambalpuri Ikats are known for their curvilinear and extremely detailed motifs with fine outlines made possible by the highly skilled bhulia weavers of the region. The bhulia weavers are experts in creating beautiful motifs like elephants, deer, fish, conch shell and even the Konark chakra on the fabrics they weave. Sambalpuri sarees are almost always laced with beautiful extra warp dobby borders, which are unusual in other Ikat weaving clusters. The usage of very fine count cotton yarn to weave the fabric also contributes to the curvilinear motifs of the region.
The easiest way to know if you are buying authentic Ikat is to check the reverse side of the fabric. If the reverse is exactly the same, you have the right fabric in your hand. On the other hand if the reverse is solid colored, drop it right there - it is not the real stuff. It is faux / printed Ikat. Since Ikat is a resist dyed technique where the yarns are tied and then dyed to get the patterns on the fabric, it can never be one-sided. Ikat is always both-sided.
Shibori, Bandini, Dabu and Batik are a few other resist-dye techniques. However unlike Ikat, which is yarn-resist, these are all fabric-resist techniques. We have a keen interest in all these textile techniques and we will keep introducing new collections based on these, along with Ikat.
We started off with Stoles and Scarves, which remain our favorite products till date. However, over the years, we have also added a range of Kaftans and Ponchos, Sarees, Hair Scarves and Bandanas, and our signature range of Ikat jewelry. Most of our products are made with Sambalpuri Ikat fabrics. However we also carry capsule collections of Shibori, Batik and hand-embroidered products.
Manisha Chawda, the founder, got enticed by the finesse of the craft and the beautiful Ikat motifs during one of her projects as a textile design student back in 2005. She was hooked on to the craft ever since and finally conceived a label of her own in 2012. Neeli Titlee was created to bridge the gap between the traditional craft of the Ikat weavers of western Odisha (Sambalpur) and the growing demand for modern and well-designed Sambalpuri Ikat products in the contemporary market.
We work with the bhulia weavers western Odisha who are known for weaving beautiful Sambalpuri sarees. The smooth curves of the Sambalpuri motifs speak of the unparalleled skills of the weavers of this region. Our Shibori, Batik and embroidered textiles are created by the artisans of Gujarat.
We strongly believe that a craft that looks dated cannot sustain the everchanging contemporary market. It needs to evolve over time without losing its essence and that’s exactly what we are good at. Ask for a trendy hair scarf or a hip relaxed-fit poncho, we have it all in fine cotton Ikats. We also experiment quite a bit with textures and motifs within the constraints of the craft, that makes our designs unique.
Even though our designs are rooted in Sambalpur, they can be worn by a global customer. We translate our ideas to select products that deserve to be made out of this intricate and a classy textile. All our products are sizeless and we make sure that there is minimum wastage during the production. When you buy from Neeli Titlee, you can be assured of a unique style-statement. We use 100% cotton yarns and eco-friendly dyes.
All our products are hand-woven and dyed in eco-friendly dyes. We use natural fibres (either cotton or silk) and have committed ourselves to fair trade practices and believe in bottom-up growth. All our products are sizeless which means they are ideal as gift items for your loved ones. When you buy from Neeli Titlee, you can be assured of a unique style-statement.
No, there is no minimum value required for you to place the order. Delivery charges will be charged according to the locations.
Our products are hand-woven with 100% natural yarns. So they have to be either hand washed in cold water or machine washed in gentle cycle with mild soap and should be dried in shade.
All our products are free size. You don’t have to worry about the fittings - in fact they can also be gifted to others without any misgivings about the right size.
Yes, we have gift cards starting from INR 500 to INR 10,000. You can order them according to your choice and the cards will be emailed to you with instructions to redeem them at check out. Our gift cards have no additional processing fee.
Yes you can. We have ready gift-set options on our website for you to choose from. If you want more options/ideas according to the occasions or personal preferences, you can contact us at hello@neelititlee.com or WhatsApp at +91 95381 28522. We will be delighted to help you.
Yes we do. We ship worldwide. We usually ship the products within 3-4 days after the order is placed, and have them delivered within 2 weeks (this is for international shipments - it can vary according to the locations).
We send emails to you on the email address provided at the time of placing the order, to help you track the orders. For any further queries write to us at hello@neelititlee.com .
No, once an order has been placed and items have been paid for, the order is final and you cannot make any amendments. If you need to contact us regarding an order you have just placed, email hello@neelititlee.com straight away referencing your order number and we will get back to you as soon as possible
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No, you don’t necessarily need an account to shop with us. However, to shop with greater ease, you can register one-time to save your details and you won’t have to re-enter it in the next session.
Visit our website @ www.neelititlee.com. When you have found a product on the website that you would like to buy, please click on the button labelled "add to cart". This will add your product to a virtual "shopping cart". To place an order, you need to click on the check out button. You will be asked to fill the information required to process your order. Once you have filled in the details and payment is successful, the products will be delivered to you.