Fabric + Stitching vs Stitching Only: which to choose

How Fabric + Stitching works

With Fabric + Stitching, you tell us what you have in mind and we propose the fabric. The more you share, the closer the proposal: the season you are dressing for, how light or warm you want it to feel, the colours you like and a picture of the look. We describe the fabric we suggest, with photos, and it is agreed with you in writing before anything is cut. Our guide to choosing fabric explains what to tell us.

• One shipping stage: only the finished outfit travels, from Pakistan to your door.
• No fabric to source: useful if you live far from shops selling Pakistani fabric.
• No free samples: fabric is described and photographed in the quote rather than posted to you first.
• Fabric is never sold on its own: it is always part of an outfit we are making.

How Stitching Only works

With Stitching Only, you supply suitable fabric and we cut, stitch and finish it. Most people use it for an unstitched suit they have bought or been given. The key rule is simple: do not post anything until we have confirmed it. You send photos of each piece and its label first, and we confirm that the fabric suits your design, that there is enough of it and how to send it. Our guide to photographing fabric for a quote shows what helps.

Stitching Only has two separate shipping stages. First you send your fabric to us in Pakistan, which you arrange yourself unless your quote says otherwise. Then the finished outfit is shipped to you, with delivery and any import charges already included in your quote. See how to post your fabric for stitching for packing and labelling.

The differences side by side

Here is how the two routes compare on the points people ask about most.

• Who chooses the fabric: you, on Stitching Only; we propose it and you agree it, on Fabric + Stitching.
• What travels: your fabric to us and then the outfit to you, on Stitching Only; only the outfit, on Fabric + Stitching.
• When the 5 to 7 working days start: on both routes, once the quote is approved and paid in full. On Stitching Only, the count also waits for your fabric to reach us.
• Cancelling before cutting: on Fabric + Stitching, the refund is reduced by the cost of any fabric already bought for your order. On Stitching Only, the fabric is yours, so nothing is taken off for it.
• The quote: on both routes it shows the agreed design, measurements, total cost, delivery arrangements, processing time and the policies that apply. On Fabric + Stitching it also describes the fabric we are supplying.

Which suits your situation?

• You bought a brand’s unstitched suit in a sale: Stitching Only. Our brand stitching guides cover the packs most people send.
• Relatives gave you suit lengths as a gift: Stitching Only, once we have checked there is enough for the cut you want.
• You want a simple everyday kurta and own no fabric: Fabric + Stitching saves you the search.
• You live a long way from any South Asian fabric shop: Fabric + Stitching, so there is only one parcel to wait for.
• You want an abaya: either works. Abayas are made to measure on both routes and quoted individually.
• You only want embroidery on fabric you already own: that is a separate request. Choose embroidery on the quote form and we confirm whether your fabric or garment is suitable before you send it.

Switching routes, and where to start

You are not locked in by your first choice. If the photos show that your fabric is short or would not suit the design, you can buy more, change the design or switch to Fabric + Stitching before anything is posted. That is one reason the checks happen first.

Each country has its own pages for both routes, for example stitching in the UK and Fabric + Stitching in the UAE. When you are ready, start a Stitching Only quote or a Fabric + Stitching quote.