Stitched vs Unstitched: Which Should You Buy?

The basic difference

Unstitched means you buy lengths of fabric (shirt, dupatta, trouser) and take them to a tailor. Stitched, often called ready-to-wear or pret, means the outfit is already made in standard sizes. You can see both on SabKapray: unstitched and ready-to-wear have their own pages.

There is also a middle option some brands sell, often called semi-stitched, where part of the outfit is made up and part is left for you to finish. The label is not standard, so read the listing to see exactly what is already stitched.

Fit and customisation

Unstitched fabric lets you choose the length, sleeve style, neckline and trouser cut, and your tailor fits it to your measurements. That matters if standard sizes never fit you well, if you are tall or petite, or if you want a specific style.

Ready-to-wear fits to a size chart. It is faster and you can judge the finished garment, but sizing differs between brands, so use each brand's chart instead of assuming your usual size. See the guide on measuring yourself and comparing size charts and the size guide. Ready-to-wear can often be taken in by a tailor, but letting out is limited by the seam allowance.

Total cost

A fair comparison adds tailoring to the fabric price. Unstitched looks cheaper on the product page because the price does not include stitching, lining or any alterations. Tailoring charges vary by city, tailor and design, so get a quote before you decide.

Here is an example with made-up numbers, not real listings. An unstitched suit at Rs 6,000 plus a tailor's quote of Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 for lining comes to Rs 8,500. A ready-to-wear suit at Rs 8,000 comes to Rs 8,000. In that case the stitched suit is the cheaper one. With a different tailor or a plainer design the answer can reverse, which is why you add your own numbers.

Ready-to-wear usually has no extra cost beyond the price shown, but returns and exchange rules differ between brands.

Sale prices change the sum

A reduction can land on either side. If a brand marks down its unstitched range, the fabric gets cheaper but your tailoring cost does not, so the saving shrinks as a share of the total. If a ready-to-wear piece is reduced, the whole price falls. Work out the total for each option at the current price, not the crossed-out one. How to spot a real sale shows how to test the discount, and the sale page lists current markdowns.

Time and risk

Unstitched needs time: the order has to arrive, then the tailor has to finish it, and a trial and alteration can add days. Around Eid and wedding season, tailors are often fully booked, so ask for a date when you hand over the fabric. If your event is close, ready-to-wear is the safer route. The Eid outfit planning guide shows how to count back from the date.

The risk with unstitched is a tailoring mistake; the risk with ready-to-wear is a size that does not fit. Both are manageable if you plan early and check measurements.

Returns and exchanges

Return rules are set by each brand. Many brands treat cut or stitched fabric differently from a sealed pack, and sale pieces may have their own rule, so read the brand's policy before you order. For a stitched piece the usual question is size: check whether the brand allows an exchange for a different size and who pays for delivery. See shipping and returns for how SabKapray handles these questions.

Ordering from outside Pakistan

From abroad, ready-to-wear removes the problem of finding a tailor who understands the cut, but sizing has to come from the brand's chart. Unstitched means finding a tailor where you live. Prices on SabKapray are in rupees only, and shipping and import charges are set by each brand and your own country. See sizing for overseas buyers.

A simple way to decide

• Choose unstitched if you want a specific fit, have a trusted tailor and have several weeks.
• Choose ready-to-wear if the date is close, you fit a brand's size chart well or you want to see the finished garment.
• Compare the total, fabric plus tailoring, against the stitched price.
• For events, plan backwards from the date and leave room for one alteration.

To see what each costs today, browse kurtas and co-ords in ready-to-wear, or set a budget with the Eid budget planner.