How to avoid sweat patches showing on a kurta

Why some colours give you away

Wet cloth looks darker because water fills the tiny air gaps between the fibres, so less light bounces back. The patch is visible when there is a clear contrast between that darker area and the dry cloth around it. Mid tones show the biggest jump; very dark and very pale shades show the least.

• Show it most: heather grey, light and mid blue, khaki, dusty pink, sage, lilac and most plain pastels.
• Show it less: black, navy, deep plum and bottle green, though dark cloth can show pale salt or deodorant marks once it dries.
• Show it least when damp: white and very pale cream, although underarms of white garments can yellow over time.

Print and weave matter more than colour

An all-over print breaks up the edge of a damp patch, so the eye cannot find it. Small, dense prints, florals, block prints and tie-dye effects all help. A single plain colour, however well chosen, never hides as much as a busy pattern.

Texture helps too. Slub, dobby and other textured cottons scatter light, so a change in shade is harder to see; our guide to dobby, slub and textured cottons describes them. Fine lawn is breathable and light, and linen dries quickly. Smooth satins, silks and shiny polyester show damp sharply, and fully synthetic fabrics tend to hold moisture against the skin rather than letting it spread and dry.

The armhole and sleeve cut

Cut matters as much as cloth. When the kameez is tight under the arm, fabric is pressed against damp skin all day and soaks up moisture straight away. A little more room through the armhole, bust and upper arm leaves a small air gap, so the cloth touches less and dries between movements.

Our guide to how loose a kameez should be explains ease in numbers. Elbow sleeves or three-quarter sleeves with some width are cooler than tight full sleeves. A lining in a breathable cotton, or a thin cotton vest underneath, absorbs damp before it reaches the outer fabric; does my kameez need lining? covers when that is worth it. Washable underarm shields sold for this purpose are another option many people use.

What to ask for in a summer kurta

If you are ordering a kurta for hot weather, these choices go in the notes of your quote request. With Fabric + Stitching we supply the fabric, and we confirm what is possible on your chosen fabric and design in the written quote. Request a quote and mention that the kurta is for heat.

Making takes 5 to 7 working days after approval and full payment, and shipping is added, so order before the hot weeks arrive.

• A printed or textured cotton, or a very light or dark plain shade.
• A little extra room under the arm and across the bust.
• Elbow or three-quarter sleeves, not tight full ones.
• A breathable cotton lining if the fabric is fine or pale.
• Embroidery level none or delicate, as heavy work traps heat.