The short answer: embellished Pakistani clothes should be dry cleaned (by a cleaner experienced with hand embroidery), stored flat or folded with acid-free tissue rather than hung, and kept away from moisture, direct sunlight and perfume. Plain cottons like lawn can be gently machine washed cold and will not shrink meaningfully if you avoid heat. Follow those three sentences and your outfits will outlast the occasions.
Washing rules by fabric
| Fabric / finish | Cleaning method | Never do |
|---|---|---|
| Hand-embroidered formals (zardozi, dabka, sequins) | Specialist dry clean only | Machine wash, wring, iron over embroidery |
| Chiffon, net, organza | Dry clean; gentle cold hand wash only if unembellished | Tumble dry, hot water |
| Raw silk, jamawar, tissue | Dry clean only | Any water washing — water marks silk |
| Lawn and cotton daywear | Cold machine wash, gentle cycle, inside out | Hot wash, hot tumble dry |
| Velvet | Dry clean; steam to revive pile | Ironing directly — crushes pile permanently |
Do Pakistani clothes shrink?
Quality occasionwear, no — silks, chiffons, nets and organzas are dimensionally stable, and dry cleaning involves no water to shrink them. Cottons, only if you cook them: lawn and khaddar can tighten slightly on first hot washes — cold water and air drying prevents it almost entirely. If a cotton piece does tighten, a cool iron while slightly damp usually relaxes it. And remember every made-to-order AÏNN London outfit carries a 3–5 inch alteration margin — sizing headroom is built in.
Storage: where outfits are won and lost
- Fold heavy pieces; never hang them. Gravity drags embellished garments out of shape and stresses shoulder seams. Fold with acid-free tissue between layers, embroidery inward.
- Breathable storage only. Cotton garment bags or clean cotton pillowcases — never sealed plastic, which traps moisture and yellows fabric.
- Dark, dry, cool. Sunlight fades dyes; damp corrodes metallic threadwork. Under-bed boxes beat lofts and cellars.
- Refold along new lines yearly so creases never set permanently — the museum trick that costs nothing.
- Perfume before dressing, never onto fabric — alcohol dulls metallics and marks silk.
Event-day aftercare
Air the outfit overnight after wearing — never store it straight from a long event. Spot-address marks immediately with a barely damp white cloth (dab, never rub), then dry clean before long-term storage: invisible sweat and food traces oxidise into permanent marks over months. Bridal preservation deserves its own ritual — clean first, tissue-fold, breathable box, then leave it be. Full technique guides live across our Care Guide, and understanding what your fabric actually is (the fabric guide) is half of caring for it — every AÏNN London product page lists its materials precisely.
Frequently asked questions
Can I iron embroidered Pakistani clothes?
Iron the plain fabric on reverse with a pressing cloth; never touch embroidery, sequins or metallic work directly — steam hovering above embellished areas is the safe alternative.
How do I get creases out of organza and net?
Hanging steam — a bathroom steam session or garment steamer at distance. Direct iron contact can glaze or melt synthetic nets.
My dupatta’s metallic border is tarnishing — why?
Moisture or perfume contact oxidising the metallic thread. Store dry with silica sachets and spray scent before dressing, never after.
How should I transport an outfit to a destination wedding?
Fold with tissue in a rigid case (never a garment bag squeezed in a hold), carry bridal pieces as cabin luggage where possible, and steam on arrival.
