This Cookie Policy explains how Vastra Heritage (vastraheritage.com) uses cookies and similar technologies, such as your browser's local storage, when you visit our website. It tells you what each one does, how long it lasts, whether it is set by us or by a third party, and how you can accept, refuse or change your choices at any time.
We have written it in plain language because we want you to understand it, not just scroll past it. This policy should be read together with our Privacy Policy, which explains how we handle personal data more generally. If you have any questions, you can contact us at any time.
3. Strictly necessary cookies
Strictly necessary cookies are needed for the website to work properly and securely. They include the language preference cookie, the session cookie used for signed-in areas, and security cookies set by our content delivery provider.
Because the website cannot function properly without them, these cookies do not require your consent under the rules that apply in the UK and the European Union. You can still block them in your browser settings, but parts of the website, such as remembering your language, may not work as expected.
Our language system is mainly based on the web address you visit (for example, /hi/ for Hindi or /gu/ for Gujarati), so even if you block the lang cookie, you can always choose your language using the language menu or the address.
4. Analytics cookies and storage
We use analytics to understand which guides are useful, which pages need improving, and which countries our readers come from, so that we can write better content for them. We use two analytics tools:
- Google Analytics 4, a service provided by Google. It uses the
_gacookies listed above. Google processes this data on our behalf. You can read more in Google's own privacy information, and you can install Google's browser add-on to opt out of Google Analytics on all websites. - Our own first-party analytics, which uses the
vastra_vididentifier in your browser's local storage. When you view a page, your browser sends us the page address and title, the visitor identifier, how long the page was active, and a few technical signals that help us tell real visitors from automated bots. Our server also records your IP address for security and bot filtering.
Analytics cookies and storage are only used with your consent. When you first visit the site, you can accept or reject analytics. If you reject them, Google Analytics will not set its cookies, and our own analytics identifier will not be stored. You can change your decision at any time (see section 7).
5. Third-party services and content
Some features of our website rely on services provided by other companies:
- Google Fonts: we load our typefaces from Google's servers. This doesn't set cookies, but your browser connects to Google, which means Google receives your IP address and technical information about your browser.
- Cloudflare: our website is delivered through Cloudflare's network for speed and security. Cloudflare may set strictly necessary security cookies, as listed in the table above.
- Links to other websites: our guides sometimes include affiliate links and links to social media, sellers and other websites. When you click those links and visit another site, that site's own cookie and privacy policies apply, not ours. See our affiliate disclosure for more about affiliate links.
- Embedded content: if a page includes an embedded video or social media post, the provider of that content may set its own cookies when you view or play it.
6. Our legal basis
If you are in the UK or the European Union, the use of cookies is covered by privacy and electronic communications rules (in the UK, the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations, and in the EU, the ePrivacy rules), together with data protection law (the UK GDPR and the EU GDPR).
- We use strictly necessary cookies because they are essential to provide the website you asked for, and on the basis of our legitimate interest in running a secure, working website.
- We use analytics cookies and storage only on the basis of your consent, which you can withdraw at any time.
Visitors from other countries, including India, the USA, Canada and Australia, receive the same choices.
7. How to manage or withdraw your consent
You have several ways to control cookies:
- Our cookie banner: when you first visit, choose "Accept" or "Reject" for analytics. You can change your choice at any time using the "Cookie settings" link in the footer of every page.
- Your browser settings: all major browsers let you view, block and delete cookies and site data. Look in the "Privacy" or "Settings" menu of Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Edge for options such as "Cookies and site data" or "Clear browsing data". Clearing site data for vastraheritage.com also removes our local storage identifier.
- Google Analytics opt-out: Google provides a browser add-on that stops Google Analytics from collecting data on any website.
- Private browsing: in a private or incognito window, cookies and local storage are deleted when you close the window.
If you withdraw your consent, this doesn't affect any analytics collected before you withdrew it.
8. How long we keep analytics data
The durations in the table above show how long the cookies stay in your browser. Separately, the analytics information collected through them is kept only as long as we need it to understand trends in how our website is used, and is then deleted or aggregated so that it no longer identifies a device. Google Analytics data is kept according to the retention period set in our Google Analytics account. Our Privacy Policy gives more detail about how long we keep personal data and your rights over it.
9. Where cookie data is processed
Our website is operated from India, and our readers live all over the world. Information collected through cookies may therefore be processed in countries other than your own:
- Our own analytics data is stored on the servers that host our website.
- Google Analytics data is processed by Google, which may process it in the United States and other countries where Google operates.
- Cloudflare operates a global network, so security checks may happen in a data centre close to you.
Where data from the UK or the EU is transferred to other countries, we rely on the safeguards offered by these providers under data protection law, such as standard contractual clauses. Our Privacy Policy explains international transfers in more detail.
10. Browser privacy signals
Some browsers can send a "Do Not Track" signal or similar privacy preference signals to websites. Because there is no single agreed standard for how websites should respond to these signals, we rely on the choices you make in our cookie banner. If you reject analytics there, we won't use analytics cookies or storage, whatever signal your browser sends. You can also block cookies entirely in your browser settings, as explained in section 7.
11. Children
Our website offers guides on clothing and textiles for general audiences, including guides for parents choosing outfits for their daughters. It is not designed for children to use on their own, and we don't knowingly collect personal information from children through cookies. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that a child has given us personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.
12. Changes to this policy
We may update this Cookie Policy when we add, remove or change a service, or when the law changes. When we do, we will update the date shown on this page. If we make a significant change, such as adding a new type of cookie that needs your consent, we will ask for your consent again through the cookie banner.
13. Contact us
If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy or how we use cookies, please email us at contact@vastraheritage.com or use our contact page. If you are in the UK or the EU and you are not satisfied with our response, you also have the right to complain to your local data protection authority, such as the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
Does Vastra Heritage use cookies?
Yes. We use a small number of cookies and similar technologies: a language preference cookie, a session cookie for signed-in areas, security cookies from our content delivery provider, and, only with your consent, analytics cookies and a local storage identifier.
Do you use advertising or tracking cookies?
No. We do not use advertising or retargeting cookies, and we do not sell information collected through cookies. Our analytics are used only to understand how our guides are used and to improve them.
What is the lang cookie?
The lang cookie remembers which language you chose (English, Hindi, Gujarati or Marathi). It lasts 30 days. Our pages also use the web address to choose the language, so you can always switch language using the menu.
What is the vastra_vid item in my browser?
It is a random visitor identifier stored in your browser's local storage by our own analytics, used to count unique visits and filter out automated bots. It contains no name or contact details, and it is only stored if you accept analytics.
How long do Google Analytics cookies last?
Google Analytics 4 cookies (_ga and _ga_<ID>) last up to 2 years unless you delete them or reject analytics.
How do I reject analytics cookies?
Choose "Reject" on the cookie banner when you first visit, or use the "Cookie settings" link in the footer to change your choice at any time. You can also block or delete cookies in your browser settings.
Will the website work if I block cookies?
Yes, the guides and pages will still work. If you block strictly necessary cookies, some conveniences, like remembering your language, may not work, but you can always choose your language from the menu.
Does Google Fonts set cookies?
No. Google Fonts doesn't set cookies, but when your browser loads our fonts it connects to Google's servers, so Google receives your IP address and basic browser information.
Do affiliate links set cookies?
When you click an affiliate link and visit another website, that website may set its own cookies to record that you came from us. Those cookies are controlled by that website, and its own cookie policy applies.
Who can I contact about cookies?
You can email contact@vastraheritage.com or use our contact page. If you are in the UK or EU, you also have the right to complain to your local data protection authority.