By Divyanshu Wadhwa
Most of our sherwanis leave Jaipur cut to one person's numbers. The groom sends us seven measurements on WhatsApp, we check them with him, and only then does the fabric go to the cutter. This guide is the same walk-through we give every customer, written down so you can read it before you order or while someone holds the tape.
What you need
A tape measure, a thin shirt and a friend. Ten minutes is enough. Measuring yourself in a mirror is possible, but the tape slips and the numbers come out small, so ask someone to do it for you. Stand straight, breathe normally, keep your arms relaxed at your sides and look ahead, not down at the tape.
Measure in inches or centimetres, whichever you are used to. Our form takes both. Write each number down as you go rather than trying to remember all seven.
The seven measurements
1. Neck. Round the base of the neck, where a collar sits. Keep one finger under the tape so the band collar of the sherwani closes without pressing.
2. Shoulder. Across the back, from the tip of one shoulder bone to the tip of the other. This is the measurement people get wrong most often, because the tape drifts down the arm. Feel for the bone at the edge of each shoulder and measure straight between the two.
3. Chest. Under the arms, round the fullest part of the chest, with the tape level all the way round. Snug, not tight: you should be able to slide a finger under it. Do not pull the tape in to make the number smaller. A sherwani is lined and carries embroidery, and it needs room to sit calm over a kurta.
4. Waist. Round the natural waist, above the navel and below the ribs. Not where your jeans sit, which is lower and wider. This number sets how the sherwani falls from the chest.
5. Hip. Round the fullest part of the hips with your feet together. The sherwani and the kurta both pass over this point, and the pants are cut from it.
6. Sleeve length. From the shoulder tip down to the wrist bone, with the arm relaxed by your side. Measure over a slight bend at the elbow, the way the arm hangs, not straight out. If you want the kurta cuff to show under the sherwani sleeve, tell us; we cut the two to different lengths.
7. Length. From the base of the collar at the back, straight down to where you want the hem. Our sherwanis end just above or just below the knee depending on the design, and each product page gives the length we cut as standard. If you are tall or short, this is the number to change; we match the kurta to it.
Small things that change the fit
Measure over a thin shirt, not a sweater or a jacket. The sherwani goes over a kurta, and we add that room ourselves.
Keep the tape level. A tape that dips at the back adds an inch to the chest without you noticing. Your friend should check the back as well as the front.
Do not round up for comfort. Send the number the tape shows. We add the ease a sherwani needs at the chest and arms; if you add some too, the piece comes out loose.
Tell us what you will wear under it. Our sets come with the kurta and pants, so we already allow for them. If you plan to wear a thicker kurta of your own, say so.
If you are between sizes on the chart, send your measurements instead of picking a size. The made to measure option costs a little more and takes the guesswork out.
What happens after you send them
We read the seven numbers against each other. Chest, waist and hip should move together; a shoulder that is wide for the chest, or a sleeve that is long for the length, usually means the tape slipped, and we ask you to check that one again before we cut. This is a two-minute exchange on WhatsApp, and it is why our remakes are rare.
Once the numbers agree, the piece is cut, embroidered where the design calls for it, lined and finished in 8 to 10 days, then sent by tracked express courier, which takes 7 to 10 days to the USA, the UK and Canada. The order page shows the estimated delivery date before you pay. If your wedding date is close, write it in the box on the product page and we tell you straight away whether we can make it in time. How it works has the full sequence.
Ready sizes, and the fit promise
If you would rather not measure, order your chest size from the charts on the size guide. The charts give both body and finished garment measurements, so you can compare them with a jacket that fits you well.
Either way, the fit promise applies. If the piece does not fit as ordered, message us within 30 days of delivery and show us on a short video call where it differs. We pay $40 or £30 towards a local tailor for a small adjustment, and if the piece does not match the measurements you sent, we remake it. Nothing goes back to India.
Not sure about a number? Send us a photo of the tape on WhatsApp at +91 8426 000 888 and we will tell you whether it looks right. Choosing the piece itself comes first, of course: our guides on how to choose a sherwani for your wedding and sherwani vs indo-western cover that.
Divyanshu Wadhwa is one of the founders behind Sei Berach.
Read next: How to choose a sherwani for your wedding, Sherwani vs indo-western: which one for which event and Indian wedding wear for men: what the groom, his family and the guests wear.