Nomads began in 1989, when the brand's founders met in Pushkar, Rajasthan, and fell for India's vibrant culture. After travelling together, they spent what remained of their travel budget on Fair Trade handicrafts from Nepal, which they sold from the very first Nomads stall at Camden Market in London.
What started as market trading soon grew into wholesale and manufacturing, as Nomads built long-term relationships with artisan producers and Fair Trade factories across India. The brand opened its Launceston store in 1998, moving into larger premises and taking on its first in-house designer, then launched nomadsclothing.com in 2004 — the same year it introduced organic cotton jersey, now its signature fabric, and achieved GOTS organic certification.
India's artisan heritage remains central to Nomads' design and production today, from handloom weaving to hand embroidery, created using GOTS certified organic cotton, natural fibres and azo-free dyes. Guided by the slow fashion movement and a 'trade, not aid' philosophy, the brand continues to design boho and vintage-inspired clothing that values the people who make it as much as those who wear it.
