We sell both, from the same unit in Medavakkam, Chennai, so we have no reason to push you one way. Here is how the two actually differ.
What you get in each
A ready to wear set arrives stitched in standard sizes, S to 3XL depending on the piece. Kurta, bottom and dupatta, done. You try it on the day it arrives.
An unstitched set is fabric: enough for the kurta, enough for the bottom, and the dupatta already finished. Your tailor cuts it to your measurements.
Buy ready to wear if
- You need it for a date that is close. Ours dispatch in 1 to 3 working days.
- Standard sizes fit you reasonably well.
- You do not have a tailor you trust, or yours is booked out, which around Deepavali he will be.
- You want to see the finished garment before you commit. What is in the photo is what arrives.
Buy unstitched if
- Standard sizes never quite work. Long torso, broader shoulders, anything above 3XL.
- You have strong opinions about sleeve length, neckline depth, or how much the kurta flares.
- You want the same fabric as a kurta this year and something else next year.
- You have three weeks. Reckon a week for delivery and one to two weeks with your tailor, more in festival season.
The cost question
Unstitched fabric costs less than the finished garment, but add your tailor’s charge and the two usually land close to each other. Unstitched is not the cheaper option. It is the better fitting one.
One thing people forget
Wash unstitched cotton and linen before you take it to the tailor. Natural fibres shrink a little on the first wash, and you want that to happen before the fabric is cut, not after the kurta is stitched.
The third option
If a ready to wear piece you like is sold out in your size, or if you are above 3XL, message us. We cut and stitch these ourselves, so we can usually make that same design to your measurements. WhatsApp +91 63694 39328 with the product link and your measurements, and we will tell you what it costs and how long it takes before you pay anything.
Browse ready to wear salwar sets or unstitched sets. Our size guide has the measurements and how to take them.