Custom abaya checklist: what to send and what to ask

Design checklist

These are the decisions that make up an abaya. You do not need every answer in the first message, but each one is settled in writing before cutting, so it pays to think them through.

• Shape: kimono, butterfly, bisht, bell, tulip, lantern, cape, pleated, tailored or layered, or a shape of your own. The collection shows each one.
• Front: open or closed, and if closed, how it fastens. Open-front vs closed abayas compares the two.
• Sleeves: wide, flared, petal, lantern or layered, and where they end at the wrist. See abaya sleeve styles.
• Neckline: round, V, a shawl collar or a band collar.
• Length with shoes: the full length, measured in the shoes you will wear with it.
• Fabric: nida, crepe or chiffon. Chiffon is slightly sheer, so decide on a lining or an inner layer at the same time.
• Colour reference: a daylight photo of something in the exact shade. A word such as “navy” or “mauve” covers far too many colours on its own.
• Embroidery motif: one of our ten, or a photo of the motif you have in mind.
• Placement: neckline, front edges, cuffs, a spray over one shoulder or a small motif at the back of the neck.
• Method and thread colour: hand, machine or mixed, and whether the thread is tonal or contrasting. Our embroidery service explains the methods.
• Name or initials: if you want them, where they go, how large and in which thread. See initials on an abaya.
• Scarf or inner dress: collection designs come with a matching scarf; an inner dress is listed in the quote if you want one.
• Pockets: whether you want them, and where.

Sharing inspiration well

Good inspiration is a few clear pictures with words attached. A folder of thirty screenshots leaves us guessing which detail you meant. Our guide to ordering an abaya from a reference photograph goes further into what a picture can and cannot tell us.

• Two or three photos. Choose the ones that show what you want most clearly.
• Say what you like in each. “The sleeve in the first photo, the embroidery colour in the second, the length in the third” is far more useful than “something like these”.
• Front and back. Back views are easy to forget, and the back is what people see as you walk away.
• Daylight. Indoor light warms colours. Photograph colour references by a window.
• Crop to the abaya. If a photo shows a whole outfit, say which part is the abaya you want.

Questions to ask us, and our answers

Ask these before you pay. Our answers are below, so you know what you should see in writing.

• What will the quote show? The design, fabric, your measurements, any customisation, the total cost, the delivery arrangements, the processing time and the policies.
• Will I approve the design in writing? Yes. Before cutting, the measurements and every design detail are set out in a written summary for you to approve. It is a summary in words, not a sketch or mock-up; see design approval.
• How do I pay? In full, in advance, by bank transfer, Wise or a card payment link.
• How long does making take? From 5 to 7 working days after the quote is approved and paid in full, or after your fabric reaches us on Stitching Only. Shipping is extra and varies by destination.
• Are delivery and import charges included? Yes. The quote includes delivery to your address and any import duties, taxes and customs or courier fees, so there is nothing to pay on arrival.
• What if something is wrong when it arrives? If it does not match the agreed measurements or design, tell us within seven days of delivery and we correct or remake it without charge for the work. You pay the postage both ways. Checking your abaya when it arrives lists what to look at.
• Can I return it if I change my mind? No. Every piece is made to order, so there are no change-of-mind returns.

Mistakes to avoid

Most of these come from planning the look and forgetting the wearer. Our wider list of custom design mistakes to avoid covers other garments too.

• Copying a length from a photo. The woman in the picture has her own height and her own shoes. Measure yours.
• Forgetting shoes. A length taken barefoot ends up short once you put heels on.
• Assuming chiffon is opaque. It is light and slightly sheer. Plan a lining or an inner layer, or choose nida or crepe. Whether an abaya shows through in sunlight explains how to judge it.
• Too many focal points. Embroidery at the cuffs, a spray over the shoulder, a contrast collar and initials all compete for the eye. Choose one main area and keep the rest quiet; delicate, detailed or statement embroidery helps you decide how much.
• A deadline that is too tight. Allow time for questions and the written approval, then 5 to 7 working days of making, then shipping. Put your date in the first message so it shapes the conversation from the start.

Sending your enquiry

When your images and notes are ready, send your design, or open any design on our custom abaya page and order it with your changes. The Iris lantern abaya, navy with soft blue irises around the stand collar, down the placket and on the cuffs, shows how much a design page already settles for you. Customers in the Emirates can read about custom abayas in the UAE, and there is a page for custom abayas in Qatar too.

If you are still deciding whether to go custom at all, read custom vs ready-made abaya, and for what it costs, how much a custom abaya costs. Collection designs start from £80 with a matching scarf.