How do I wash an abaya with stones on it?

With the utmost care. The stones are held on by thread and the chance of breakage is high. Dry clean it, or hand wash cold without wringing. Never put a stone-set abaya in a washing machine or a tumble dryer.

Do you alter an abaya I bought somewhere else?

Yes, any abaya, wherever you bought it. Alterations start at AED 10. Bring it in and we will tell you the price and the time before we start.

How to wash and care for an abaya

An abaya that is washed properly keeps its colour and its drape for years. Most of the damage we see in for repair was done by heat, not by wear.

Can I machine wash an abaya?

Nida, crepe, cotton and georgette usually yes: cold water, gentle cycle, turned inside out, in a mesh bag if you have one. Use a mild detergent and no bleach.

Silk, satin, chiffon and anything with heavy embroidery, beading or sequins should go to a dry cleaner. The stitching survives washing; the embellishment often does not.

Linen washes well but creases readily — expect to press it, or choose it knowing that relaxed look is part of the fabric.

How do I dry it?

Hang it on a broad hanger in shade and let it dry on its own. Never tumble dry — heat is what shrinks the weave and dulls black cloth to grey.

Direct sun does the same thing more slowly. Shade, always.

How do I get creases out of crepe?

Usually you do not need to. Crepe recovers on a hanger overnight, which is most of the reason people choose it.

If you do need to press, turn the abaya inside out, use the lowest heat with a pressing cloth between the iron and the fabric, and keep moving. A steamer held a hand away is safer than an iron on anything with texture.

How should I store abayas?

Hanging, on broad hangers, with room between them. Wire hangers leave a mark in the shoulder that is difficult to get out, and a packed wardrobe presses creases into crepe that would otherwise have hung out.

What if it tears or the zip goes?

Bring it in. We repair abayas from AED 10, including ones bought elsewhere, and a torn seam or a failed zip is routine work. A repair is almost always cheaper than replacing the piece.

How do I wash an abaya with stones?

With the utmost care. The stones are held on by thread, and the chance of breakage is high — a washing machine drum will pull them off faster than anything else you can do to the piece.

Dry clean it, or hand wash in cold water with no wringing and no twisting. Never tumble dry, and never put a stone-set abaya through a machine cycle, however gentle the setting claims to be.