If you’ve shopped for sustainable shoes in the past few years, you probably recognize the name Nisolo. The brand built a loyal following with its clean designs and focus on ethical manufacturing. But recently, even dedicated customers have found themselves wondering: is Nisolo out of business? The short answer: the original Nisolo company shut down, but the brand isn’t truly “gone.” The story turns out to be a lot more complicated than a simple closing sign.
The Sudden Shutdown of Nisolo LLC
Nisolo LLC, the company founded to run the Nisolo brand, officially went under in January 2025. It wasn’t a gradual wind-down or pre-planned exit—the company’s lenders foreclosed on them. This usually means Nisolo couldn’t keep up with loan payments, so the banks stepped in, seized assets, and sold whatever they could to cover losses.
It’s not a unique story for independent brands in challenging markets, but for a company recognized for transparency, it was still a shock to see such an abrupt ending. Many customers noticed products quickly shrinking in number, support emails slowing down, and then—radio silence.
What Happened to Nisolo Customers?
If you were a customer at the time, you might remember the “Five for Five” program—Nisolo’s unique plan where people bought five pairs of shoes up front at a discounted bundle. The promise sounded good: help support an ethical brand and lock in a personal shoe deal. But when the foreclosure happened, that program vanished overnight.
People who’d paid into Five for Five suddenly couldn’t reach support, track existing orders, or get answers about when their shoes would arrive. On forums and social media, complaints mounted. Customers were asking the same thing: Do they owe me a refund? Who am I supposed to talk to?
The Transition: Enter Project Bound
After the dust settled, the Nisolo brand itself—think trademarks, product designs, maybe some inventory—was sold off to a new company called Project Bound. They aren’t a household name yet, but they’re the new owners of what we think of as “Nisolo.”
Most importantly, they bought the business assets. They did not buy the liabilities, the obligations, or the legal ties to old Nisolo LLC customers. So if you participated in any old membership or pre-purchase programs, the new company is under no legal pressure to honor those deals.
Project Bound did at least attempt a basic compromise. They offered legacy customers a “lifetime VIP discount” on future Nisolo brand purchases. So if you were owed shoes or credit from old Nisolo programs, now you just get a permanent discount—not a refund or the products you may have already paid for.
Customer Service Chaos and Refund Frustrations
For months in early 2025, the complaints kept coming. Customers emailed about missing orders, unprocessed refunds, and general confusion. The responses, if any, often took weeks to arrive. Sometimes, they didn’t come at all. One customer wrote on a review board, “I paid for shoes I never got. Now there’s just silence. It’s like the company ghosted me.”
This isn’t uncommon when original organizations go under and get replaced. The new company often just doesn’t have access to the old records, order info, or bank accounts. The tricky part? To most people outside the business world, “Nisolo” is still “Nisolo.” The brand name stays. The logo looks the same. So customers expect all their old commitments to hold up.
Operating Under New Ownership (But Not Old Promises)
Let’s make it clear: Nisolo, as a brand, still exists. You can check the website, buy shoes, and see a familiar product lineup. But from a legal (and practical) standpoint, it’s a totally new company.
The original Nisolo LLC is out of the picture. No more old debts, and no more old customer “owed” shoes, refunds, or store credit. Project Bound is running the show—and it seems they’re sticking pretty strictly to what they’re legally required to do (which, frankly, isn’t a lot for former customers).
This kind of transition isn’t unheard of if you watch retail. The assets move over, but the baggage doesn’t. It’s clean from a business perspective, but it can feel pretty unfair for loyal shoppers who supported the brand early on.
Trying to Win Back Trust (and Fumbling It)
So what’s new Nisolo doing about the mess? They did issue the VIP discount, which is something, but many customers aren’t satisfied. Some wanted their money back. Others wanted the shoes or products they actually paid for in advance.
You might say Nisolo’s new owners are caught in a tough spot. They want to build on the old brand’s goodwill, but they’re also trying to avoid taking on losses or obligations they don’t legally have to cover. So their solution—a permanent discount for legacy members—feels a little like a band-aid.
And that’s left the brand’s customer service with a lasting headache. Complaints about slow or missing replies, lack of updates, or unclear shipping details pop up regularly in 2025 online reviews. For every happy shopper, there’s another saying, “Well, I haven’t heard back in weeks.”
Sustainability Image Takes a Hit
Nisolo built its reputation on sustainability and fair labor. It made shoes that looked good and claimed to do good, too. Many fans discovered them through social impact stories as much as ads for stylish boots.
That’s why the abrupt shutdown hit especially hard. When a company with a “do the right thing” message suddenly leaves customers hanging, the reputational damage goes beyond missing a single order. Online forums and green shopping guides have flagged Nisolo’s changes, and you’ll even find discussions at places like Sera Business about how social brands can stumble during ownership shakeups.
Now, new Nisolo has to fight an uphill battle to win back trust. Some shoppers are willing to give them another shot, but the old luster is definitely dulled. If you’re big on ethical shopping, these kinds of stories may give you pause before you click “Buy Now.”
Is Nisolo a Different Company Now?
Pretty much, yes. Same product lines. Similar mission statements. But the company managing everything behind the scenes has changed. The people making business decisions now aren’t the founders or original team.
Project Bound made it very clear to the public: They are not on the hook for previous obligations. Some shoes from that last year might still ship. But mostly, their priority is rebuilding—and moving on from past debts. It’s standard practice in business takeovers, but it usually leaves some fans behind.
At the same time, new management says they’re committed to upholding the spirit of the brand. You’ll see messages about continued fair labor and sustainable sourcing. The challenge, of course, is convincing shoppers that this time, things will actually be different—and that commitments matter.
What’s Going On With Orders Now?
If you’re thinking of buying from Nisolo today, you’ll be dealing with Project Bound’s version of the business. Most current orders are being fulfilled, but reviews about slow communication or unclear shipping aren’t rare. The good news? Website orders do seem to get delivered; you just might need some patience.
There are no more big membership or prepaid programs up for grabs, which might actually make things simpler. The company offers sales and standard deals, but nothing like the “Five for Five” program exists now. If you previously had a loyalty or credit balance, all you get is the lifetime discount for future purchases.
How Are Old Customers Reacting?
If you ever bought Nisolo products directly with cash (and not through some pre-pay scheme), you probably haven’t noticed much difference—except for some lingering uncertainty around the brand’s ethics.
But if you were caught in the shutdown, there’s understandable frustration. Social media, review sites, and blogs from 2025 are full of threads about missing refunds, slow emails, or “ghosting.” For a brand so closely tied to trust and sustainability, it’s not a good look.
Some shoppers are just moving on. For others, there’s hope things will stabilize and maybe the discount will soften the sting. Older customers feeling burned by the collapse may continue to hold a grudge though. Trust, once broken, isn’t easy to patch.
Where Does Nisolo Go From Here?
This is the tricky part. Nisolo’s new owners have a recognizable brand and a still-strong niche in the sustainable shoe space. That’s valuable in its own right. But a reputation is hard to rebuild after letting long-time fans down—especially customers who expected better from a “conscious” company.
To move forward, the new Nisolo will probably focus on keeping current orders running smoothly and fixing customer service. If they can show real improvement and transparency, maybe some of the old trust returns. There’s still an audience for ethically made, stylish shoes—but maybe a slightly more skeptical one now.
For shoppers considering giving Nisolo another chance, it’s worth keeping realistic expectations. The shoes are much the same, but the company behind them isn’t what it used to be. Maybe that’s enough. Maybe not.
Either way, the story’s a reminder that even brands built on values can hit hard business reality. If you’re still interested in the journey and want to support ethical products, keep your eyes open—for both red flags and signs the story could turn around.
For now, Nisolo’s doors are still open—but it’s up to the new owners to prove it’s a brand worth supporting, moving forward.