Gift guide
Handmade gifts from Pakistan for Eid and weddings, and how early to order them
A handmade gift says more than anything off a shelf, but it can't be rushed. Here's what to give, how long it takes to make, and what will survive the post.
Every Eid and wedding season the same thing happens: people decide on a handmade gift two weeks before the day, and find that the best makers are booked or that the piece simply takes longer than that to make. Handmade work runs on its own clock. Plan around it, and the gift will be better for it.
Order early: how long handmade takes
| Gift | Making time |
|---|---|
| Ajrak | A Bhit Shah workshop described a full batch as taking around 40 days. [2] |
| Balochi embroidered dress | A dochgir can often finish a full dress in about a month; sleeves or pockets alone take less. [3] |
| Iraghi embroidered cap | Months of work for a traditional cap. [4] |
| Khussas | Made to order once the maker has the size, which isn't standardised. [5] |
Our rule of thumb: for anything embroidered or printed by hand, order two to three months before Eid or the wedding, and add two to three weeks if it has to be posted abroad.
Gifts that mean something
An ajrak, for the person you most want to honour
In Sindh, an ajrak is given to guests as a mark of hospitality and respect, often with a Sindhi topi. [1] That makes it a fitting gift for an elder, a host, or the family you're marrying into. Our ajrak story explains how to tell a hand-printed, double-sided piece.
Khussas, for the wedding
Khussas embroidered with metallic tilla thread are the dressy kind, and beaded versions with a small heel are worn as formal evening wear. [5] Because sizes aren't standardised, ask for a tracing of the recipient's foot. [5] Shoes such as khussas travel easily by courier. [6]
Balochi embroidery, an heirloom
Balochi embroidery is done entirely by hand by women embroiderers, called dochgirs, on the sleeves, pockets and cuffs of the pashk dress, sometimes with small mirrors stitched in. Dresses are passed from mother to daughter, and the embroidery can be cut out and sewn onto new cloth when the old fabric wears through. [3] In 2021, Dawn reported prices from about 15,000 rupees for everyday wear to 70,000 for special occasions. [3]
A rilli, for a new home
Rilli patchwork quilts are found in Sindhi homes and often given as gifts. [7] A handmade quilt is a warm way to welcome a couple to a new home.
Blue pottery or a lacquer box, for the table
Multani blue pottery takes its colour from cobalt and copper oxides, painted by hand and fired twice. [8] Hala's jandi lacquer work comes as boxes, lamps and vases; keep it away from alcohol, acid and direct sunlight. [7] Both need careful packing: wooden items can be posted if they're well wrapped. [6] Ask a potter whether a piece is food safe before you use it to serve.
A pakol or a Peshawari chappal, for the men
The pakol is a soft, round-topped wool cap from Gilgit and Chitral, with a rolled brim you can pull down over the ears in the cold. [9] The Peshawari chappal is made to order in Peshawar's old markets, where the best makers cut double-soled pairs to fit. [10]
Sending gifts abroad
Most handmade gifts can be posted: clothes, shoes, embroidered pieces and carefully packed wooden items travel without trouble. Couriers refuse perfume and attar, food, medicines, and gold or jewellery with precious stones, and customs in the recipient's country may charge duty on larger parcels. [6]
What we'd do
- Order from the maker, not a middleman, where you can. In Hala, some craft families are bound to intermediaries who make them sell below market price. [7]
- Ask for a video of the finished piece before it's packed.
- Combine parcels. If you're buying from several makers, sending everything in one box costs much less than posting each piece separately.
Questions people ask
How early should I order a handmade gift for Eid?
Two to three months ahead for anything embroidered or printed by hand. A Bhit Shah workshop described a batch of ajraks as taking around 40 days, and a full Balochi embroidered dress can take a month.
Can I post handmade gifts from Pakistan abroad?
Most can travel: clothes, shoes such as khussas, embroidered pieces and carefully packed wooden items. Couriers refuse perfume and attar, food and medicines.
What is a traditional Sindhi gift?
The ajrak, often given with a Sindhi topi, is offered to guests as a mark of hospitality and respect. Rilli quilts are also common gifts in Sindhi homes.
Know someone who makes this by hand?
We feature makers free, with links straight to their WhatsApp or Instagram. Tell us about them, or send a correction if we got something wrong.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Ajrak
- Shafaqna Pakistan: The making of an ajrak (2015)
- Dawn: A stitch in time, Balochi embroidery (2021)
- Pamir Times: Disappearing forms of embroidery in Gilgit-Baltistan (2016)
- Gulf News: Tale of the khussa (2007)
- WomanlyGrace (our sister site): What you can and can't ship from Pakistan
- Around Pakistan: Pottery and other handicrafts of Hala
- S.A.J. Shirazi: True blue of Multan (2007)
- Wikipedia: Pakol
- Arab News Pakistan: Famous Pakistani cobbler crafts shoes for crown prince (2019)