Styles and design · 8 October 2026 · 4 min read
Does kameez length include the lace at the hem?
Kameez length with lace: give every length to the very bottom edge, lace or border included, and say so. A simple rule for hems, sleeves, cuffs and trousers.
InspirationThe rule in one line
Yes, it should. Give every length as the finished length to the lowest edge of the garment, lace, border or cuff included, and write “finished, including lace” next to the number. Then nobody has to guess.
Most measuring guides, including our own shalwar kameez measuring guide, simply say “kameez length” and do not mention trims. That is fine for a plain hem. Once lace or a separate border is added below the fabric, the same number can mean two different kameez.
Why the same number can give two lengths
Lace is attached in two common ways. Sewn below the hem, it adds its own width to the length. Laid over the hem, with the fabric running behind it, it adds nothing. So a kameez you wanted to end 40 inches (102 cm) from the shoulder could come out 43 inches (109 cm) long if 3 inches (7.5 cm) of lace is added under a 40 inch body.
Saying “finished length” removes the doubt. The tailor works backwards: 40 inches finished, minus 3 inches of lace, so the fabric part stops at 37 inches (94 cm). Lace widths vary a lot, which is why the total is the safest number to give.
A border printed or embroidered into the fabric itself is not a problem, because it is already part of the cloth. The question only arises with something added on: lace, a separate border strip, an organza band as on a daman with organza, or a cuff.
The same rule for sleeves, trousers and dupattas
Apply it to every piece that ends in a trim. These are the places where it most often goes wrong.
- Sleeves with lace: measure from the shoulder point to where you want the lace to end, and say whether it should stop at the wrist bone or fall over the hand. See sleeves with lace for the look.
- Sleeves with a band cuff: give the length to the bottom of the cuff, not to where the cuff is joined.
- Trousers with a border or lace: measure from the waist to the bottom edge of the trim, with the shoes you will wear in mind. Wide lace that reaches the floor can catch on a heel.
- Hems: for a daman with lace, the length runs to the bottom of the lace, or to the tips if it is scalloped or pointed.
- Dupatta: lace on the two ends adds to the length; lace on all four sides adds to the width as well.
How to write it on your order
On the quote form, put the finished number in the length box and add a short note such as “kameez length 40 in finished, including 3 in lace” or “sleeve 23 in to the end of the cuff”. If you are sending your own lace, say how wide it is. If you measured a garment you already own, measure that one to its lowest edge too. Our measuring help page explains the other measurements.
Every order is checked in writing before cutting: the written quote lists the agreed design and measurements, so read the lengths there and confirm they say finished. You can ask for this on a made-to-measure outfit by requesting a quote.
Common questions
I already measured without the lace. Do I need to start again?
No. Just say which number you gave, for example body length 37 inches with 3 inches of lace to be added below. Either way works as long as it is clear.
Does a pointed or scalloped lace count to the tips?
Yes. Give the length to the lowest point of the lace, because that is where the garment visibly ends.
Does lace change the trouser length I should ask for?
It can. A heavy lace adds weight and a little drop at the hem, and wide lace can catch on shoes, so many people ask for trouser lengths with lace to end slightly higher than a plain hem.
