Fabrics for Bahrain’s humidity, season by season

High summer: the lightest cottons

From late spring through the humid months, fibre and weave decide everything:

• Lawn: fine and absorbent, with an open weave that lets air through. Pale colours may need a light lining. See lawn.
• Voile: finer still, lovely for loose kurtas and dupattas, though it shows creases.
• Textured cottons: dobby and slub weaves hold slightly away from the skin, which helps when you are damp; see dobby, slub and textured cotton.
• Linen: cool and fast drying, though it creases easily. See linen.

The shoulder seasons and a mild winter

As the humidity eases in autumn and spring, cambric comes into its own: crisper and more opaque than lawn, so it looks neat for work, but still a breathable cotton. In Bahrain’s short, mild winter, many people are comfortable in cambric with a heavier dupatta or a light shawl, with marina or a soft khaddar for the coolest evenings or a windy day by the sea.

If you live near the coast in Muharraq or inland in Riffa, the difference is small, but sea breezes can make winter evenings feel cooler than the daytime suggests.

Prints, colours and cut for damp days

A busy print hides damp patches and creases better than a plain pastel, and a mid-tone colour is more forgiving than either white or black. If you like plain fabrics, choose a slightly heavier weave. Our guide to block, digital and screen prints explains how each kind of print wears.

For the cut, ask for a little ease at the bust and hip, side slits that start around the hip so the kameez moves, and a sleeve that is not tight at the upper arm. Wide trousers such as a shalwar or palazzo stay cooler than slim styles in damp heat.

Washing and drying in damp air

Cotton that stays damp for hours can start to smell, and in humid weather that happens easily if clothes are dried indoors without airflow. Dry kurtas in the shade with space between them, or near a fan, rather than bunched on a rack. Bright and dark cottons can bleed in the first few washes, so wash them separately at first. Our guide to washing lawn and embroidered suits covers temperatures and detergents.

If you are sending your own fabric for Stitching Only, it is worth reading whether to pre-wash fabric before you post it.

Storing clothes through a humid summer

Winter and occasion pieces spend months in the wardrobe while the air is at its wettest. A few habits protect them:

• Make sure pieces are completely dry and clean before you put them away.
• Use breathable cotton bags rather than sealed plastic, which traps moisture.
• Leave a little space in the wardrobe so air can circulate, and run the air-conditioning in that room if you can.
• Refold embroidered and silk-like pieces occasionally so creases do not set.

Ordering for Bahrain’s climate

If you want us to source the fabric, choose Fabric + Stitching for Bahrain and tell us the season and setting; we agree the fabric with you in the quote before cutting. If you already have lawn suits bought in Isa Town or elsewhere, Stitching Only lets you send them once we have confirmed them.

Several outfits can share one set of measurements on one request. Your quote is in US dollars, euros or pounds, whichever you choose, and covers delivery and any import charges. We make your order in 5 to 7 working days after approval and full payment. Start on the Bahrain quote form.