Sending fabric from the US to Pakistan for stitching

Confirm before you post anything

Please do not post fabric before we have replied. Start by sending clear daylight photos of every piece, including any label, through the Stitching Only quote form. Our guide on how to photograph fabric for a quote shows what helps.

We then confirm three things: that the fabric suits the design, that there is enough of it, and the sending arrangements. Quantity is the one that catches people out; a suit cut for a standard size may be short for a long kameez or a wide sharara, so read how much fabric a three-piece suit needs if you are unsure.

Choosing a carrier in the US

You can use the postal service or a private courier; the first shipment is arranged and paid for by you, unless your quote says otherwise. Whatever you choose, look for these things rather than the lowest price:

• Full tracking all the way to Pakistan, not only until the parcel leaves the US.
• A delivery signature or proof of delivery, so you can see when it has reached us.
• Insurance or declared-value cover if the suit is valuable to you.
• Clear online customs forms, which most carriers now ask you to fill in before you print a label.

Filling in the customs declaration

Every international parcel leaving the US needs a customs declaration. Describe the contents plainly and accurately, for example an unstitched cotton suit of three pieces, give the real value, and list the right number of items. Keep your receipt if you have one. Vague descriptions can lead to questions and delays, and the declared value should always be honest.

We cannot advise on what any carrier or customs authority will charge or decide, so if something on the form is unclear, ask the carrier. Put your name and quote reference on a note inside the parcel too.

Packing for a long journey

Fold each piece neatly, keep any embroidered neckline or border pieces with the shirt fabric, and seal everything in a clean plastic bag inside a sturdy mailer or box, so damp cannot get in. Send only the pieces that are being stitched. Our general guide to posting your fabric for stitching has a fuller packing checklist.

If you would like us to copy the fit of a kameez you already own, read how to send a sample kameez and ask about it before you pack.

When sending fabric is not worth it

Two international journeys take time, and the first one costs you postage. If you do not have a particular suit in mind, or the fabric you own is ordinary, Fabric + Stitching is often simpler: we supply the agreed fabric and only the finished outfit travels. When you do want a specific suit stitched, our stitching page for the USA and the USA page explain the rest, from measurements to delivery with import charges included in your quote.