Made to measure, ready to wear or unstitched?

Ready to wear: quick, but decided for you

Ready to wear, also sold as pret or stitched, is cut to a brand’s size chart. You see the finished piece, order your size and wear it as soon as it arrives. The catch is that a size is an average. If your shoulders, bust and hips do not all fall in the same size, something will be loose or tight, and the brand has already chosen the neckline, the sleeve length and the kameez length.

• Good for: a last-minute need, a style you love exactly as shown, and bodies that match one size well.
• Watch for: sleeves and lengths that suit the model’s height rather than yours, and little room to adjust later.

Unstitched: your choice of print, still to be made

An unstitched suit gives you the brand’s print or embroidery as lengths of fabric, so the cut is up to you. It is how a large share of Pakistani lawn and winter fabric is sold. On its own, though, it is not wearable: you still need someone to stitch it, and you need enough fabric for the design you want. Our guide to how to read an unstitched suit label explains what comes in a pack.

Made to measure: built around your numbers

Made to measure starts from your body, not from a size. You give your measurements, choose the neckline, sleeves, length and trousers, and the outfit is cut to them. With us it works in two ways: Stitching Only, where you supply the fabric (often an unstitched suit), and Fabric + Stitching, where we supply the agreed fabric. You can also send your own design as a photo or sketch.

• Good for: bodies between sizes, height that makes ready-made lengths wrong, and anyone who wants particular sleeves, necklines or modest lengths.
• Watch for: it needs planning. Making takes 5 to 7 working days after approval and full payment, and shipping time comes on top.
• Accuracy matters: the outfit is only as good as the measurements. The size guide and measuring help make this easier.

How to decide for this outfit

Ask yourself four questions, in this order.

• When do you need it? If the date is days away, ready to wear is the realistic option. If you have a few weeks, made to measure is open to you.
• Does one size fit you everywhere? Compare your bust, waist and hips with a brand’s chart. If they land in different sizes, made to measure removes the compromise.
• Do you already own the fabric? If you do, Stitching Only turns it into a finished outfit. If not, decide whether you want to choose a print yourself (buy unstitched) or have fabric proposed (Fabric + Stitching).
• How much do the details matter? A particular sleeve, a longer kameez or a lined bodice is easy to ask for when the outfit is made for you, and hard to change afterwards.

Mixing the three

Most wardrobes use all three. A ready-made kurta covers the week you have nothing clean, a stack of unstitched lawn waits for the summer, and the outfits that matter most, such as Eid or a family dinner, are made to measure. If you live abroad, made to measure also avoids the gamble of ordering a size from a chart you have never tried.

Ordering from Britain? The UK page explains how it works from there, and customising one of our designs in the UK is a middle path if you want a starting point. When you are ready, request a quote and tell us your date.