Gifting an unstitched suit, and making sure it can be stitched to fit

Choosing the suit

• Think about when she will wear it: lawn for spring and summer, cambric for autumn, khaddar or karandi for winter. Our lawn season guide explains when each appears.
• Colours she already wears: look at what she chooses for herself, not what you would like to see her in. Our guide to choosing colours helps.
• A three-piece is usually the most complete gift, with the dupatta she needs to finish the look. See two-piece vs three-piece.
• The level of embellishment: everyday print, a mixed suit for gatherings, or embroidered for Eid.
• Enough fabric for her: if she is tall, a larger size, or loves long or flared styles, check the lengths on the label. See what to do if a suit is short of fabric.
• Indian or Pakistani style: if she usually wears Indian suits, dress material in georgette or cotton may suit her better than a lawn pack. See Indian dress material vs Pakistani unstitched.
• A gift receipt, if the shop offers one, in case she would prefer another colour.
• Presentation: fold it flat in tissue with the label, and keep perfume and scented wrapping away from the fabric.

Making sure it can be stitched to fit

The fit depends on her measurements, and those are hard to guess. Rather than trying to measure her in secret, give the suit as it is and let her take it from there. Leave it unwashed and uncut, and keep the label or listing with it so the fabric details are to hand when it is stitched.

When she is ready, she can use our size guide to take her own measurements, or send a kameez that already fits her well, once we have confirmed how to send it. Our guide to measuring yourself without help makes it easy even if nobody is around to hold the tape.

If you are posting the gift to someone in another country, remember that a parcel crossing a border may be charged import VAT, duty or a courier fee at the other end, even when it is a present. The rules vary by country, so check the carrier’s guidance before you send.

Including the stitching in the gift

If you want the gift to arrive ready to wear, the simplest route is for her to request the quote herself on the stitching quote form, with her measurements and design choices. If you would like to pay for the stitching as part of the present, say so on the form, tell us who the outfit is for, and we’ll confirm in the written quote how it can be arranged, including where the finished outfit should be delivered.

For a gift with a date attached, such as Eid, start early: production time and shipping costs are confirmed in the written quote, and we cannot guarantee delivery dates. Our Eid ideas and Eid timeline help you plan. A small card inside the pack saying the stitching is part of the gift is a lovely touch. The unstitched suit stitching page explains how the service works.