Every kurta that leaves our Gulberg studio starts the same way: a card with eleven numbers on it, written by hand, before a single piece of fabric is cut. Parents often ask what actually happens between that first measurement and the garment arriving at their door — so here's the honest, unglamorous version.
1. The measurement card
Whether it's a home visit or a studio appointment, our tailor takes the same eleven points every time: chest, waist, hip, shoulder width, sleeve length, neck, back length, front length, inseam, outseam, and height. We don't round to the nearest size — a chest measurement of 57cm and one of 59cm get genuinely different patterns, because at this age, that difference matters.
2. Drafting the pattern
The measurement card goes to our pattern table, where it's translated into a paper pattern — the actual shape the fabric will be cut to. This is where growth ease comes in: a small, deliberate allowance built into the seams so the garment still fits comfortably a few months later, not just on the day of the fitting.
3. Cutting and the first stitch
Fabric is cut against the pattern, then basted together loosely for the first fitting — this is a deliberately rough version, meant to be checked and adjusted, not worn. If a shoulder seam sits slightly off or a sleeve runs long, this is where it gets caught, before any final stitching happens.
4. The first fitting
This is usually the shortest step and the most useful one. The child tries on the basted garment, our tailor checks movement — can they raise their arms, sit down, run around — and marks any adjustments directly on the fabric.
5. Final stitching and pressing
Once the fit is confirmed, the garment goes to final stitching. Everyday pieces get French seams for durability through repeated washing; occasion pieces get hand-set embroidery where the design calls for it. The last step is pressing — an unglamorous but important part of why a finished piece looks the way it does on delivery day.
What this means for timing
Start to finish, this usually takes 3 to 5 days after the first fitting. It's slower than picking a size off a rack, but it's also why a Tifl kurta tends to still fit properly months later, instead of just on the day it's collected.
If you'd like to see this process for your own child, you can book a fitting here, or read more about our full measurement process.