Fabrics and care · 30 September 2026 · 4 min read

How to wash and care for lawn, chiffon and embroidered suits

Washing, drying, ironing and storing lawn, cambric, chiffon and embroidered Pakistani suits: how to stop colours bleeding and keep embroidery and zari looking new.

Inspiration

Before the first wash

Start with the care label or the brand’s care card if there is one; it always overrides general advice. Then check whether the colours are likely to run. Dampen a hidden area, such as an inside seam allowance or the hem, and press a white cloth or tissue against it. If colour transfers, wash that piece on its own in cold water for the first few washes.

Deep reds, navy, black and bright printed lawns are the most likely to bleed. A colour-catcher sheet in the drum is more dependable than home remedies such as salt or vinegar, which are widely suggested but do little to set factory dyes. Never leave a damp suit bundled up with other clothes: that is when most colour transfer happens.

Washing by fabric

Different parts of the same suit can need different treatment, so a printed lawn kameez and its chiffon dupatta may not go in the same wash.

Lawn and cambric: machine wash at 30°C on a gentle cycle, inside out, with similar colours and a mild detergent. Do not leave printed lawn soaking.
Chiffon and georgette: hand wash in cool water with a gentle detergent, swish rather than scrub, and never wring. Heavily embellished chiffon is safer dry cleaned.
Khaddar, karandi and linen: a cool, gentle machine wash inside out. Khaddar can pill with friction, so wash it with other soft items rather than with jeans.
Thread embroidery: hand wash, or machine wash inside out in a mesh laundry bag on a delicate cycle. Avoid bleach, which can strip colour from embroidery threads.
Zari, gota, sequins and stones: spot clean where you can and dry clean when needed. Water and rubbing can dull metallic thread and loosen glued stones.

Drying and ironing

Skip the tumble dryer. Heat encourages cotton to shrink and can pucker embroidery. Instead, roll the wet piece in a clean towel and press to remove excess water, then dry it on a padded hanger or flat, in the shade or indoors. Strong sun fades bright prints surprisingly quickly, even in the UK.

Iron lawn and cotton on a medium setting while still slightly damp, which takes the creases out in one pass. Chiffon, georgette and synthetic blends need a low setting and a pressing cloth. Press embroidered areas from the reverse, face down on a thick towel, so the stitches keep their raised texture instead of being flattened. Never put a hot iron directly on zari, sequins or stones.

Storing between seasons

Suits worn only for Eid or only in winter spend most of the year in a wardrobe, and that is where a lot of damage happens.

Clean first: perfume, deodorant and food marks set over time and attract moths.
Breathable storage: use cotton or muslin garment bags rather than plastic, which traps moisture.
Protect embroidery: lay acid-free tissue paper over embroidered areas when folding, and wrap zari pieces in soft cotton or muslin to slow tarnishing.
Fold or hang wisely: heavily embroidered kameez keep their shape better folded than hanging for months; lawn and cotton can hang on padded hangers.
Refold now and then: a crease left for a whole season can become permanent on fine fabric.
Keep moths away: cedar or lavender helps protect wool shawls and karandi stored over summer.

How good stitching helps

Care starts before the first wear. Lawn and khaddar can shrink a little in the first wash, neatly finished seams stop fraying, and a lining protects fine fabric and the back of embroidery from rubbing. When you ask for a Stitching Only quote, tell us if you have already washed the fabric and ask about lining; we’ll say what we recommend in your quote. Read more about when a kameez needs lining and how lawn behaves.

If a border or trim has come loose on a suit you already own, take it to a local tailor who can see the piece: repairs and alterations to existing garments are not one of our services. If you would rather have a new outfit made to your measurements, see custom stitching or start a quote.

Common questions

Can I machine wash a lawn suit?

Yes, most lawn suits can be machine washed on a cool (30°C) gentle cycle, inside out, with similar colours. Check the care label first, and hand wash anything with heavy embroidery, sequins or zari.

How do I stop my lawn suit bleeding colour?

Wash it separately in cold water for the first few washes and add a colour-catcher sheet. Do not soak it, and hang it to dry straight away rather than leaving it damp in a pile.

How do I stop zari from tarnishing?

Keep it dry, away from perfume, and stored in soft cotton or muslin rather than plastic. Dry cleaning, rather than washing, is the safest way to clean heavy zari and zardozi work.

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