Raat Ki Rani Ajrakh Saree

Dry clean the first time, then hand wash cold. Dry flat in shade, iron on the reverse.

Hand-block-printed and naturally dyed pieces are alive. They soften with wear and age beautifully - if you treat them right.

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The First Wash

The first wash sets the tone for everything that follows. Please don't skip these steps:

1. Fill a basin with cold water. Never warm, never hot.
2. Add a small amount of mild, pH-neutral soap - or a teaspoon of white vinegar, which helps set natural dyes.
3. Submerge the piece gently and swish slowly. Do not scrub, twist, or rub.
4. Let it soak for no more than 10 minutes.
5. Rinse thoroughly in cold water until the water runs clear.
6. Do not wring. Press the water out gently by folding the fabric and applying light pressure.
7. Dry flat in shade, or hang in a well-ventilated spot away from direct sun.

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General Care

Washing: Always hand wash in cold water with a gentle detergent. Machine washing - even on delicate - is too harsh for hand-block-printed fabric. The friction breaks down the dye over time.

Drying: Dry in shade. Always. Direct sunlight is the single biggest cause of colour fading in naturally dyed textiles. A breezy indoor rack or a shaded outdoor line is ideal.

Storing: Fold loosely and store in a cool, dry place. Avoid plastic bags, natural fabrics need to breathe. A cotton muslin bag or a clean pillowcase works beautifully. If storing long-term, refold every few months to avoid permanent crease lines.

Ironing: Iron on medium heat while slightly damp, on the reverse side of the fabric. This protects the print surface and keeps colours bright.

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What to Expect

Natural dyes behave differently from synthetic ones - and that is exactly the point.

• A small amount of indigo may bleed in the first 1–2 washes. This is completely normal and stops on its own. Wash separately the first time if you're cautious.
• Slight shrinkage (2–3%) on the first wash is normal for handloom cotton. We account for this in our sizing.
• Over time, naturally dyed pieces develop a patina - colours soften and deepen in a way that synthetic dyes never do. This is not fading. This is ageing. It is beautiful.

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What Not to Do

• 🚫 Do not bleach - it will destroy both the fabric and the dye permanently
• 🚫 Do not wring - wringing distorts the weave and cracks the print
• 🚫 Do not dry in direct sunlight, natural dyes are photosensitive; UV light fades them faster than anything else
• 🚫 Do not dry-clean unless we've specifically noted it on the product page, the solvents used in dry cleaning are incompatible with natural dyes
• 🚫 Do not use fabric softener - it coats the fibres and dulls the colour over time

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Questions?

If you're unsure about anything, a specific piece, a stain, a storage question- just ask us directly.

WhatsApp us on +91 8796711007, we answer same-day.

These pieces were made slowly, by hand, with care. A little attention in the wash goes a long way toward keeping them with you for years.

Ships across India from New Delhi. Free over ₹2,500. Prepaid only.

Exchange within 7 days, unworn with tags (₹150 pickup). Sale and custom pieces are final. Wrong or damaged? WhatsApp us within 48 hours.

We pack every order by hand, with care. Here's everything you need to know about getting your Gul piece to you, and what happens if something isn't right.

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Shipping within India

• Dispatch: within 2–4 business days of payment, packed by hand in New Delhi
• Free shipping on orders of ₹2,500 and above
• Standard shipping: ₹100 — delivered 3–5 business days after dispatch
• Express shipping: ₹250 — delivered 1–2 business days after dispatch, where available
• A tracking link is sent by email and WhatsApp as soon as your order leaves us
• Prepaid orders only — UPI, cards and net banking. We don't offer cash on delivery.

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International shipping

We ship worldwide by tracked courier. Your exact rate is calculated at checkout from where you are and the weight of your order — the prices below are for a single piece, and rise in steps as you add more.

• South Asia — from ₹950
  Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives · 4–7 business days
• UAE & the Gulf — from ₹1,250
  UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain · 5–8 business days
• Southeast & East Asia — from ₹1,600
  Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, China, Brunei, Macau, Cambodia, Laos · 6–10 business days
• UK & Europe — from ₹1,900
  UK, Ireland and 28 countries across Europe · 7–12 business days
• US & Canada — from ₹2,100 · 7–12 business days
• Australia & New Zealand — from ₹2,200 · 7–12 business days

As a guide, one kaftan is about half a kilo and four kaftans about two. Dispatch is the same 2–4 business days; made-to-order pieces follow the timeline on the product page.

Duties and local taxes are not included and are payable by you on delivery, as set by your country's customs.

Shipping somewhere not listed? WhatsApp +91 8796711007 and we'll quote it for you.

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Exchanges, not returns

Every Gul piece is made by hand and most are one of one, so we don't accept returns or give refunds for a change of mind. We're very happy to exchange.

• Request an exchange within 7 days of delivery
• The piece must be unworn, unwashed, with tags and original packaging
• Choose another piece, or take store credit for the full value. If your new piece costs more, you pay the difference
• Within India, we arrange the pickup; a ₹150 reverse-pickup fee applies
• On international orders we can't arrange a pickup. Message us within 7 days and we'll issue store credit once the piece reaches us; return shipping and any duties are yours. Damaged or wrong items are always on us — see below.

To start an exchange: WhatsApp +91 8796711007 or email shopatgul@gmail.com with your order number and the piece you'd like instead.

Final sale

• Sale pieces
• Custom or made-to-order pieces
• Pieces showing signs of wear, washing or alteration

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Damaged or wrong item?

This shouldn't happen, but if it does, we'll make it right. Message us within 48 hours of delivery with your order number and photos. We'll collect it at no cost and send a replacement. If we can't replace it (many pieces are one of one), we'll refund you in full to your original payment method within 7 business days.

Small variations in print, dye and stitch are the mark of handmade work, not a defect.

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Questions about your order? WhatsApp us — we reply same day, Monday to Saturday.