A Pakistani wardrobe for UK university life

Halls, shared laundry and small wardrobes

Student halls usually mean shared washing machines, hot tumble dryers and a narrow wardrobe. Choose fabrics that cope: cambric and printed cottons wash well and hide creases, while embroidered chiffon is better kept for occasions and washed gently by hand. Tumble dryers can shrink lawn and fade bright colours, so dry kurtas on a rack in your room where you can.

Our guide to washing lawn and embroidered suits explains the basics. Fold rather than hang heavier suits if hanging space is tight, and keep a dupatta or two rolled in a drawer.

A term’s worth of outfits

This short list covers most weeks of term without filling the wardrobe.

• Three short kurtas in easy cottons, to wear with jeans, straight trousers or a skirt.
• One co-ord, a matching kurta and trouser set that looks put together with no effort for presentations or placements.
• One warm suit in khaddar or a similar winter fabric for the coldest weeks, with full sleeves.
• One dressier outfit for society dinners, cultural nights and Eid celebrations on campus.
• Practical details: side-seam pockets for a phone and student card, and sleeves that roll up for labs or studios.

Rain, hills and walks between buildings

Many UK campuses are spread out, and some, like those in Sheffield, come with hills. Cigarette pants or straight trousers stay clear of wet pavements, and a kurta that ends around the knee sits better under a rain jacket than a long, flared one. A cotton scarf is easier to manage on a windy walk than a large chiffon dupatta.

Eid away from home and society events

If you are studying away from family, Eid might mean a prayer on campus, a society dinner or a meal with flatmates. One festive outfit with a little embroidery covers all of these; you can ask for delicate or detailed work at the neckline and sleeves on an outfit we stitch. Because the date moves every year, check it against your term dates early and order well before exam season gets busy.

Graduation day

At most UK ceremonies an academic gown and hood go over your own clothes. A kameez with slim or three-quarter sleeves sits more comfortably under gown sleeves than very full ones, and a neckline without heavy embroidery at the back of the neck stops the hood catching on it. Choose a colour that works with your hood’s colours in photographs, and keep the length practical for walking across a stage.

Ordering as a student

Whether you study in Oxford, Cambridge or anywhere else, orders are placed online and delivered to your UK address. If you live in halls, check how parcels are received there and use your full name and room or flat number. Quotes are in pounds, production is 5 to 7 working days from approval and full payment, and shipping comes on top.

If you bring unstitched suits from home, Stitching Only can turn them into term-time outfits once we have confirmed the fabric. See the work and campus page for more ideas and the UK page for delivery, then request a quote.