Hajj clothes for women: what copes with the days

What hajj asks that umrah does not

The two differ in length and in setting, and each difference changes what you pack.

• Days in a shared tent: you rest on a thin mattress among many other women, with little privacy. Clothes need to be comfortable to lie down in and decent from every angle.
• Long walks in crowds: distances between sites can run to several kilometres at a time. Trousers must not rub, and hems must stay clear of feet.
• A day in the open and a night under the sky: strong sun, then ground that turns cool after dark. A light shawl earns its place.
• Shared washing areas: laundry is done by hand in a basin and dried on a hanger, so cloth has to dry fast.
• Dust and repeated wear: the same few sets go round again and again. Seams and fabric must stand up to it.

Fabric that survives a basin and a hanger

Choose cloth that is opaque without a lining. A lined kameez is two layers to wash and two layers to dry, and in a crowded tent that can mean putting it on damp. Cambric and similar mid-weight cottons are dense enough to wear alone and breathe well in heat.

A cotton and polyester blend dries faster and creases less, at the cost of feeling warmer on the skin. Many women take a mix: pure cotton for the hottest hours, and a blend as the spare that will always be dry. Avoid very fine lawn, anything sheer, and anything that must be ironed to look decent. Our guide to fabrics for Gulf heat compares the options.

Cut for walking, sitting and sleeping

A hajj set is closer to good nightwear than to an Eid suit. When you describe it for a quote, cover these points.

• Kameez: knee to calf length, straight with generous ease or A-line, so it does not ride up when you lie down.
• Sleeves: full length, with a buttoned cuff that opens for wudu.
• Trousers: a shalwar or straight trousers on a soft elastic waist with a drawstring as back-up. Trousers under a kameez also reduce the rubbing at the thigh that long walks cause.
• Hems: at the ankle bone, never touching the ground.
• Embroidery level: none. Decoration adds weight, drying time and something to snag.
• Seams: ask for the inside to be finished neatly, with no scratchy edges at the neck or underarm, since you will sleep in these clothes.
• Pockets: a hidden zipped pocket for your phone and identity card. Ask for it in your quote, and we confirm what is possible on your fabric and design.

A clothes list to work from

Luggage space is limited and groups differ, so check your organiser’s list first. As a starting point:

• Three or four light sets of kameez and trousers, so that one is on, one is drying and one is clean.
• Four or five scarves or head coverings in matte cotton or jersey, with under-caps if you use them.
• One or two abayas if you wear them; a travel abaya in a crease-resistant cloth is the practical kind.
• A light shawl for the night outdoors and for cold air conditioning.
• Several pairs of socks, and sandals that have already been worn in.
• A small bar of laundry soap, a few pegs and two hangers.

Ordering sets in good time

Hajj is planned months ahead, and the clothes should be too. Making takes 5 to 7 working days from approval and full payment, shipping time is added to that, and we do not take rush orders. With Stitching Only, your fabric has to reach us in Pakistan before anything is cut.

Several identical sets can go in one order; see ordering several outfits at once. Our custom stitching service makes each piece to your measurements, and you can request a quote with the fabric, the length and the number of sets in the notes. Wash and wear everything at home before you travel.