What to look out for when occasion wear shopping

There’s one thing that most South Asian women can agree on — shopping for South Asian occasion wear is far from easy. 

Besides finding the right garment and the colors that match your big occasion, there are certain things you should keep in mind when shopping. 

At Sani, we make sure we deploy the highest quality standards across our pieces. We use a comprehensive check list throughout our production process, so that you don’t have to. 

But, if you’re shopping elsewhere, here’s a list of tips from our experience with South Asian clothing that you should keep in mind next time you hit the stores.

Lining — Make sure it’s comfortable!

When you’re considering a garment, the first thing you should do is check if there is lining under the main fabric. If there is lining, check if it feels itchy. Even if it may not feel itchy right now, it might feel uncomfortable after a few hours at a wedding or long event. 

At Sani, we always use a silky lining in our blouses and skirts to ensure that no fabric is itching you. 

Cups — Check the height!

Next, you should check to see if the built-in cups are at the right height for you. Many manufacturers in India tend to put the cups much lower than we ever wanted, so be mindful of that when you’re looking at your blouses. Wear the piece and make sure the cups aren’t sagging before having them adjusted by a tailor. 

Closures — Make sure they work!

We know, this one sounds like a given. But when you try on a garment, make sure the zipper actually works. Double check that the zip and any hook and eye closures work both when you’re wearing the outfit and when you’re not. Sometimes, it’s tough to get the zipper over the yoke (the waistline area). If that’s the case, consult a tailor to get the zipper smoothed out or get the zipper replaced altogether. At Sani, we use YKK zippers, which are of the highest quality, so that you don’t have to run into these issues. 

Margin — Check for wiggle room!

The last main thing you should mindful of is checking whether there is margin inside thee garment. This tends to be included in most garments, but it’s not a given. Great margin allows you to ensure that you can use the outfit, even if you change sizes. If there is margin, check if it gives you real wiggle room. For reference, most of Sani blouses have two inches of margin on either side, totaling four inches between both sides. 

Do you have other questions about quality control? We'd love to hear more - get in touch with us!