Will the black bleed or run when I wash it?
No. The fabric is colour-fast and does not bleed on the first wash, so the white in the print stays white. Give it a dry clean for the first wash, and after that a gentle cold hand wash is all it needs.
How can I tell this is genuinely hand block printed and not a machine print?
Look along the repeat. Hand block printing leaves small irregularities - an outline slightly off register, one impression a shade deeper than the next - because each stamp is placed by hand with a carved wooden block. A screen or machine print repeats identically every time. This suit is printed entirely by hand in Bhagalpur.
What comes in the set?
Three unstitched pieces: a top of 2.5 metres at 44 to 45 inches wide, a bottom of 2.5 metres at 44 to 45 inches wide, and a dupatta of 2.5 metres at 35 to 36 inches wide. Nothing is stitched, so your tailor can cut the silhouette you actually want.
Is there enough fabric for a larger size?
Yes. The set can be stitched up to 4XL for a straight kurta set, and the length can be customised for larger sizes. The 2.5 metres on each piece gives your tailor room to work.
Does this suit need a lining?
No. The fabric is opaque and can be stitched without a lining. You can still add one if you want a heavier fall and a more formal finish, but it is a choice rather than a necessity.
What if the shade or the quality is not what I hoped for?
An exchange is available if the shade or quality is not loved. Screens do render black and white differently, so if the piece does not look the way you pictured it when it arrives, write to us and we will exchange it.