Made-to-measure shalwar kameez shipped to the US

Stage one: the enquiry

The first message is short. We need your name, email, country, city, the garment, how many, whether you want Fabric + Stitching or Stitching Only, any design pictures and your notes. Your full delivery address is not needed yet; it is collected only when the order goes ahead.

Pictures help a great deal. A screenshot of a neckline you like, a photo of your fabric in daylight, or a kameez you already own all tell us more than a paragraph of description. If you are supplying fabric, start with the Stitching Only quote form; if you want us to supply it, use the Fabric + Stitching form.

Stage two: the written quote

Before you pay anything, you receive a written quote that sets out the agreed design, the fabric, your measurements, any customisation, the total cost, the delivery arrangements, the processing time and the policies that apply. Read it slowly. This document replaces the try-on you would have at a tailor in person, so any question about sleeve length, lining or trouser style belongs here, not after cutting.

Measurements go in on the form, in inches or centimetres. If you are unsure about a figure, our measuring help page explains each one, and you can ask us to check anything that looks odd.

Stage three: approval and payment

From the US you choose whether the quote is in US dollars, euros or pounds sterling. Payment is in full and in advance, by bank transfer, Wise or a card payment link, and nothing is made until it has arrived.

It helps to know the cancellation terms at this point. If a paid order is cancelled before cutting, you are refunded minus the cost of any fabric already bought for it (with Stitching Only nothing is deducted for fabric). Once cutting has started, there is no refund. The payment and cancellations page has the full wording.

Stage four: production in Pakistan

Production takes 5 to 7 working days. The count starts once the quote is approved and paid in full and, for Stitching Only, once your fabric has reached us. That is the time for cutting, stitching and finishing, not delivery.

Behind the scenes your order moves from confirmed, to awaiting fabric if you are posting a suit, to in production. If you are sending fabric from the US, factor in that first international journey too; our guide to how long stitching takes explains the difference between production and the total wait.

Stage five: shipping to your US address

The finished outfit is shipped from Pakistan to the address you give. Shipping time is extra and varies by destination and delivery method, so put any important date on the form and say whether it is fixed. We do not promise arrival dates.

US rules on parcels from abroad changed recently: duty-free de minimis treatment is suspended for shipments from all countries, so imports of any value can be subject to duties, taxes and fees (see the US Customs fact sheet). Our quote already includes delivery and those charges, so the parcel arrives with nothing left to pay. If a courier ever asks you for money at the door, contact us first.

Stage six: unpacking and checking

When it arrives, try everything on in good light and compare it with your quote, not with a memory of the picture.

• Check the main measurements you gave: kameez length, sleeve length, trouser length and waist.
• Check the design details: neckline, sleeve style, lining and trouser style.
• Remember that colours can look slightly different from photos because of lighting and screens; a small difference in shade is not a fault.
• If something does not match the agreed measurements or design, tell us within seven days of delivery. We correct or remake it without charge for the work, and you pay the postage both ways.