A glossary of Pakistani clothing terms

Garments

Shalwar kameezشلوار قمیض

The national dress of Pakistan, worn by women and men: a long tunic (kameez) over loose trousers (shalwar). For women it is usually completed by a dupatta. It is the single most common garment category in Pakistani fashion retail.

Kameezقمیض

The tunic worn as the upper half of a shalwar kameez. Length, neckline and cut vary widely by region, season and fashion — from a hip-length everyday cut to a floor-length formal.

Kurtaکرتا

A straight, loose tunic, typically simpler and more relaxed than a formal kameez. Worn by women and men. In women's retail, 'kurta' usually implies a straight, unflared cut.

Kurtiکرتی

A shorter, lighter tunic than a kurta, usually hip- or thigh-length. Commonly sold to be worn with palazzos, cigarette pants or jeans, and popular as everyday and workwear.

Shalwarشلوار

Loose, wide-legged trousers gathered at the waist and narrowing at the ankle, worn as the lower half of a shalwar kameez.

Churidarچوڑی دار

Tightly fitted trousers cut longer than the leg so the excess gathers in horizontal folds at the ankle, resembling stacked bangles — which is what the name refers to.

Palazzoپلازو

Wide, straight-falling trousers with a flared leg, worn in place of a shalwar. A modern staple, most often paired with a kurti.

Dupattaدوپٹہ

A long, unstitched length of fabric draped over the shoulders, chest or head, worn as the third piece of a women's suit. Because it hangs freely rather than being fitted to the body, it is the element most AI try-on tools reproduce incorrectly.

Chunniچنی

Another word for a dupatta, used more commonly in Punjabi-speaking contexts. The terms are largely interchangeable in retail.

Angrakhaانگرکھا

A cut in which the bodice crosses over itself and ties at the side, creating an overlapping front panel. Historically a Mughal-era silhouette, now a recurring fashion cut.

Anarkaliانارکلی

A long, fitted-bodice frock that flares dramatically from the waist or bust into a full skirt. Named after the Mughal courtesan of legend, and a standard formal and party silhouette.

Shararaشرارہ

A pair of very wide, heavily flared trousers, split and flaring from the knee, worn with a short kameez. Common at mehndi and wedding functions.

Ghararaغرارہ

Similar to a sharara but fitted to the knee, where a distinct horizontal joint (the 'gota' seam) introduces a sharply flared lower leg. A traditional Lucknawi and Pakistani wedding garment.

Lehengaلہنگا

A long, full skirt worn with a fitted blouse (choli) and a dupatta. The dominant bridal silhouette across Pakistan and North India.

Peshwasپشواز

A long, flowing frock-style garment with a high waist and full flare, historically Mughal court dress and now a formal and bridal silhouette.

Sareeساڑھی

A single unstitched length of fabric, typically five to nine yards, draped around the body and over the shoulder, worn with a fitted blouse and petticoat.

Retail terms

Unstitchedان سلا

Fabric sold as flat, uncut pieces — usually shirt, trouser and dupatta — which the customer takes to a tailor to be stitched into a suit. The dominant way lawn and most everyday fabric is sold in Pakistan, and the reason product pages show folded cloth rather than a finished garment.

Pretپریٹ

Short for prêt-à-porter: ready-to-wear clothing sold stitched and sized, as opposed to unstitched fabric. The growing alternative to unstitched in urban Pakistani retail.

Three-pieceتھری پیس

An unstitched suit sold as three components: shirt fabric, trouser fabric and dupatta. A 'two-piece' omits the dupatta.

Fabrics

Lawnلان

A fine, lightweight, high-thread-count cotton fabric, and by far the most significant category in Pakistani fashion. Lawn 'season' runs roughly February to May, when major brands release annual collections that frequently sell out within days.

Khaddarکھدر

A thicker, coarser handwoven or handloom-style cotton, warmer than lawn and worn primarily in winter.

Cambricکیمبرک

A closely woven, mid-weight cotton, heavier than lawn and lighter than khaddar. A common mid-season fabric.

Chiffonشفون

A light, sheer, drapey fabric, usually of silk or synthetic filament, used for dupattas and formal wear where fall and movement matter.

Organzaآرگنزا

A crisp, sheer, lightweight fabric that holds its shape rather than draping. Used for structured formal wear and dupattas where the transparency of the weave is itself the point.

Jacquardجیکارڈ

Fabric with a pattern woven into the cloth on a Jacquard loom rather than printed onto it, giving a raised, textured design.

Embellishment

Zariزری

Fine metallic thread, historically gold or silver, woven or embroidered into fabric to create shimmering patterns and borders.

Zardoziزردوزی

Heavy, raised metal-thread embroidery worked over a padded base, often incorporating beads, sequins and stones. Because the work sits well above the surface of the cloth and catches light from many angles, it is the hardest embellishment for AI imagery to reproduce.

Tillaطلہ

Gold or silver thread embroidery, traditionally associated with Kashmiri and Punjabi work, typically applied in dense decorative motifs.

Gotaگوٹا

Flat metallic ribbon or lace applied as trim and appliqué, common on festive and bridal wear, particularly around necklines, hems and sleeves.

Mukaishمکیش

Tiny metallic dots or flecks embedded into fabric by twisting fine metal wire through it, producing a scattered glitter across the cloth.

Occasions

Mehndiمہندی

The pre-wedding henna celebration, and by extension the category of clothing worn to it — typically bright, festive and often yellow, green or orange.

Baraatبارات

The wedding day on which the groom's procession arrives, and the formal, heavily embellished clothing category associated with it.

Walimaولیمہ

The reception hosted by the groom's family after the wedding, and the correspondingly formal clothing worn to it.

Frequently asked questions