How to Care for your Dress

Last updated 21 October 2026

The short answer: dry clean your bridal and formal outfits, hand or gentle machine wash your lawn and cotton pieces in cold water, iron everything on the reverse, and store it all in breathable cotton, never plastic. Always check the care label first. If it differs from this guide, follow the label.

From parcel to party: getting your outfit event-ready

Most care guides start after the wedding. Ours starts before your outfit leaves us, because the days between delivery and your event are when a little care makes the biggest difference.

See it before it ships. Want to check the colour, embroidery or stitching on your actual outfit? Ask us on WhatsApp and we'll send you a video of it before dispatch.

When	What to do
The day it arrives	Unpack it and check every piece against your order. Hang lighter pieces and lay heavy ones flat so the travel creases start to relax.
At least a week before	Try on the full outfit with the shoes you'll wear, so there's time for any fitting changes.
Two to three days before	Steam it, or iron it on the reverse. Doing it now, not on the morning, leaves time to fix anything that goes wrong.
The night before	Hang it in a cool room in a cotton bag, away from radiators and damp walls. Pack a small kit: safety pins, a needle and matching thread, and a white cloth for blotting spills.
On the day	Perfume, deodorant and make-up first, then the outfit, and jewellery last.
After the event	Air it for a few hours, note any stains for the dry cleaner, then store it as described below.

Fit not quite right? Alterations are free after delivery. Message us with your order number before you take it to a tailor, and we'll sort it out.

Ordered unstitched fabric?

Lawn and cotton can shrink slightly on their first wash. If your own tailor is stitching the outfit, wash or soak the fabric first and let them know, so the finished outfit keeps its fit after washing.

Care at a glance

Outfit type	Washing	Ironing	Storage
Bridal and heavy formals	Professional dry clean only	Steam or iron on reverse, low heat, cloth in between	Folded flat in a cotton bag or box with tissue
Chiffon, organza and net	Dry clean	Low heat on reverse, or steam from a distance	Folded loosely or rolled, away from sharp edges
Silk and raw silk	Dry clean	Low to medium heat on reverse	Cotton bag, away from light
Velvet	Dry clean	Steam from the back only, never press	Hang on a padded hanger, not squashed
Lawn, cotton and cambric	Cold hand wash or gentle machine cycle	Medium heat on reverse, slightly damp	Folded or hung, in a dry wardrobe
Khaddar and linen	Cold gentle wash	Medium to high heat on reverse	Folded, with moth protection in winter

Bridal and formal wear

Embroidered and embellished outfits carry hours of handwork: zardozi, dabka, tilla, sequins, beads and stones. Water, heat and friction are what damage them, so the aim is to clean them as little and as gently as possible.

Cleaning

Use a specialist dry cleaner. Choose one experienced with embellished or bridal wear and point out the handwork and any stains when you drop it off.
Clean it soon after the event. Food, make-up and perspiration are easier to remove before they set, and some marks only appear weeks later.
Never machine wash an embellished piece, and don't soak it. Water can tarnish metallic thread, loosen beads and make dyes run.
Don't over-clean. If the outfit isn't marked, air it out and put it away rather than cleaning it after every wear.

Dupattas

Heavily worked dupattas are often the most delicate part of the outfit. Fold them along the existing folds or roll them around a cardboard tube wrapped in cotton, and keep embellished borders from rubbing against other fabric.

Lawn and casual wear

Lawn, cotton, cambric, khaddar and linen are made to be washed, but colour and print last much longer with a little care.

Wash the first time on its own. Bright and dark Pakistani prints can release some dye in early washes. Wash each new outfit separately, or with similar colours, until the water runs clear.
Use cold water and a mild detergent. Hand wash or use a gentle or delicate machine cycle at 30°C or below. Skip bleach and biological "stain" detergents on coloured prints.
Turn it inside out. This protects prints and any embroidery on the front, and put embroidered shirts in a mesh laundry bag.
Don't wring or tumble dry. Gently squeeze out the water, then dry flat or on a hanger in the shade. Direct sunlight fades lawn quickly.
Embroidered lawn needs extra care. If the shirt has heavy embroidery, sequins or lace, treat it like a formal piece and hand wash only, or dry clean.

Ironing and steaming

Always iron on the reverse, with a thin cotton cloth between the iron and any embroidery.
Match the heat to the fabric: low for chiffon, organza, net and silk; medium for lawn and cotton; medium to high for khaddar and linen.
Never iron directly over sequins, beads or stones. Heat can dull, warp or melt them. Iron around them instead.
Steam is gentler for formals. Hold the steamer a few centimetres away, keep it moving, and use distilled water to avoid spots.
Iron lawn slightly damp. Creases come out more easily and you can use less heat.

Dealing with stains

Act quickly but gently. Blot with a clean, white cloth. Never rub, which spreads the stain and damages embroidery.
On formals, take it to the dry cleaner. Don't apply water or stain removers to embellished areas yourself. Tell the cleaner what caused the stain.
On lawn and cotton, rinse the back of the stain under cold water, then wash as normal. Hot water can set protein stains such as food.
Oil and turmeric stains (common at mehndi and dholki) set fast. Blot off the excess straight away and get the outfit cleaned as soon as you can.
Test any stain remover on a hidden area, such as an inside seam, before using it on the outfit.

Storing your outfits

Breathable, never plastic. Plastic traps moisture, which can cause yellowing, mildew and tarnished zari. Use a cotton or muslin garment bag or a clean cotton sheet.
Fold heavy pieces flat. Heavily embellished shirts and lehengas stretch out of shape on a hanger. Fold them with acid-free tissue between the layers, especially over embroidery.
Refold every few months along different lines, so permanent creases or weak points don't form.
Hang lighter pieces properly. Use padded or wide wooden hangers, never wire ones, and leave space so embellishment doesn't snag on neighbouring clothes.
Keep it cool, dark and dry. UK homes can be damp in winter, so avoid lofts, garages and outside walls, and add silica gel sachets to storage boxes.
Protect against moths with cedar blocks or lavender sachets, especially for silk, khaddar and wool-blend pieces.

While you're wearing it

Perfume and deodorant first. Apply them and let them dry before you dress. Sprays can stain silk and tarnish metallic thread.
Make-up before the outfit. Cover your face with a light scarf when putting on anything over your head.
Watch your jewellery. Bangles, rings and earrings easily catch on net, organza and embroidery. Put jewellery on last and take it off first.
Air it out afterwards. Hang the outfit for a few hours after wearing before you put it away, so any moisture evaporates.

Small repairs

Fix small problems early. A loose bead or thread is easy to secure; left alone, it can unravel a whole section of work.
Don't cut pulled threads. Ease them back through to the inside with a fine needle instead.
Use an experienced tailor for alterations or repairs to embellished pieces, ideally one who works with South Asian bridal wear.

Not sure how to care for your outfit?

Send us the design name and a photo of the care label, and we'll tell you how best to look after it.

Ask us on WhatsApp Email our team

Common questions

Can I see my outfit before it's dispatched?

Yes. Ask us on WhatsApp and we'll send you a video of your actual outfit before it ships.

What if my outfit needs altering after it arrives?

Alterations are free after delivery. Message us with your order number and we'll arrange it.

Can I wash my embroidered formal outfit at home?

We don't recommend it. Water can tarnish metallic thread, loosen embellishment and make dyes run. Use a specialist dry cleaner instead.

Can I machine wash lawn?

Yes, on a gentle or delicate cycle at 30°C or below, inside out and with similar colours. Wash new pieces separately at first, as some dye may run.

Why has the colour run on my new lawn suit?

Deep and bright prints can release excess dye in the first few washes. Wash the outfit on its own in cold water until the water runs clear.

Should I hang or fold a bridal outfit?

Fold heavily embellished pieces flat with acid-free tissue, as their weight stretches them on a hanger. Lighter pieces can hang on a padded hanger.

How do I remove creases from organza or chiffon?

Steam from a few centimetres away, or iron on the reverse at a low heat with a cotton cloth in between. Never iron over sequins or beads.

This guide covers general care. Each designer may give specific instructions for a piece, so always check its care label first.