Decorative buttons on a kameez: sleeves, back, slits

Where decorative buttons look good

Each placement has its own character, and one well-chosen spot usually beats buttons everywhere.

• Sleeve cuffs: a short row of three to five small buttons along the outer edge of a full sleeve or three-quarter sleeve. They can close a slit with loops, or be purely for show.
• Back opening: a keyhole or short slit at the back neck, closed with one button and a loop, or a longer row of small buttons down the upper back for a dressier look.
• Slit tops: a single button where each side slit begins, which neatens the point and draws the eye to the cut.
• Trouser hems: a short slit at the ankle of cigarette pants or straight trousers, edged with two or three buttons.
• Shoulders or yoke: a line of buttons along a shoulder seam or across a yoke, more common on Western-style tops.

Choosing the type of button

The button itself sets the tone, from quiet to festive.

• Fabric-covered: made from the garment’s own cloth or a contrast. Discreet, light and easy to match; small round ones look neat in long rows.
• Thread-wrapped or potli-style: small domed buttons wrapped in thread or fabric, a traditional choice on kurtas.
• Metal: gold, silver or antique-finish buttons with a loop on the back. They add shine and suit festive and winter outfits.
• Pearl-look: usually coated plastic or glass. Soft and dressy, especially on pastels and white.
• Wood, horn-look or shell: natural textures that suit cotton, linen and khaddar.

Washing and wearing notes

Buttons are often the first thing to suffer in the wash. Metal can tarnish or rub dark marks onto pale fabric, and the plating on low-cost metal buttons wears off. The coating on pearl-look buttons can chip or peel in hot water. Plastic melts under a hot iron, so press around buttons or from the back on a towel. Fabric-covered buttons can fray at the edges over time.

Hand washing inside out, or a mesh bag on a gentle cycle, protects them best. Think about comfort too: buttons at the back neck press into you when you lean back in a chair, and buttons on the outside of the wrist can catch on bags and sleeves.

Asking for decorative buttons

Say where you want the buttons, how many, roughly what size, and whether they should open or are purely decorative. A photo of the style helps. Ask for them as part of your design through custom stitching, and we confirm in your written quote what is possible on your fabric and design. Start a design quote when you are ready.