Style guide · Necklines
Band Collar (Ban or Chinese Gala) Kurta Designs
Also called ban gala, Chinese gala
Quick answer
A band collar (ban gala or Chinese gala) is a short collar that stands up around the neck, usually with a buttoned placket or a short slit at the front. It looks smart and modest, suits office and campus wear, and sits neatly under a dupatta or hijab. It needs your neck measurement and a choice of band height.
What it is
A band collar is a narrow strip of fabric that stands up from a round neckline instead of lying flat. Unlike a shirt collar it has no fold-over. It usually opens at the front with a placket and buttons, a short slit, or a keyhole with a loop, so it can go over the head and be worn open or closed.
Who and what it suits
- Office, university and travel: crisp and modest, and it doesn’t need a dupatta to look finished.
- Long necks: a standing band looks graceful.
- Hijab wearers: the high line sits cleanly under a scarf.
- Short necks: choose a lower band, or a band with an open placket, so it doesn’t feel tight.
Fabrics and structure
A band collar needs to stand up without wilting, so it’s usually stiffened with a light interfacing. Cambric, cotton, khaddar and linen make excellent band collars; soft lawn works with interfacing; very sheer fabrics are better with a flat finish instead.
Measurements that matter
Because the band wraps around your neck, it needs a neck circumference as well as your usual measurements, so it closes comfortably without gaping. Tell us the band height you’d like (a lower band is more comfortable in summer) and whether you want it to close fully or sit slightly open.
How to ask for it
Choose “Band collar” on the stitching quote form. In the notes, add your neck measurement, the band height and the front opening you want: a buttoned placket, a short slit or a keyhole. Our guide to plackets and buttons shows the options.
Common questions
What is the difference between a band collar and a shirt collar?
A band collar is a single standing strip with no fold. A shirt collar has a stand plus a fold-over collar on top, like a formal shirt.
Is a band collar comfortable in summer?
A lower band in a breathable fabric such as lawn or cambric is comfortable. If you find collars warm, ask for a lower band or an open placket.
Last reviewed 30 September 2026.
