Abayas – Stolers ( Hijab)

Abayas and Stolers

Korean Nida abayas in two cuts, textured with zip pockets and plain open with cuff sleeves, in sixteen colours at Rs 5,000. We confirm the length with you before we send, so you get one that fits rather than one you hope will. Cash on delivery across Pakistan, two to six days. Message us on WhatsApp or call 0324 492 4274.

The two cuts we make

• Textured with zip pockets: A closed cut in textured Korean Nida with two zipped pockets set into the side seams. In black, brown, burgundy, charcoal grey, French lilac, navy, olive green and purple.
• Plain open with cuff sleeves: A front open cut in plain Nida with buttoned cuffs at the wrist, worn loose or belted over what you already have on. In baby pink, brown, burgundy, charcoal grey, deep lilac, forest green, green, navy, pebble grey, slate grey, taupe and toffee.

The open cut goes on over your clothes and is easier to adjust if the fit is not exact. The closed cut needs the length right from the start, which is why we check it with you first.

What a stoler is

Stoler, or stole, is the long rectangular scarf worn with an abaya. It is not the same thing as a chiffon hijab. A stole is longer and heavier, so it holds its fold across the shoulder without pins and does not slide through the day. A chiffon hijab is lighter and drapes more, but usually needs an inner cap and a pin or two to stay put. Jersey grips on its own but clings more. Most women here keep one stole in black and one in a colour close to their most worn abaya. If you want a stole matched to a specific abaya colour, tell us when you order and we will confirm what we can match before anything ships.

We cut it to your length

This is the part a fixed size brand cannot do, and it is worth understanding before you order anywhere. Abayas are not sized like ordinary clothes. The number on the label is the length in inches from shoulder to hem, so a 56 means 56 inches. Most brands stock 52, 54, 56 and 58 and you pick whichever comes closest to your height. Roughly, 52 suits five feet to five feet two, 54 suits five three to five five, 56 suits five six to five eight, and 58 suits taller than that. If you wear heels, take the next one up. The trouble comes when you fall between two of them, or outside the range altogether. A long abaya can be taken up. A short one cannot be fixed. So we do it the other way round. Tell us your height when you order and we confirm the length before anything is cut. If none of the standard lengths suits you, we make yours. The same applies to a colour or design we do not have listed. Call or message 0324 492 4274.

Pockets, and why they matter

Most abayas sold online have none, so you spend the day holding a phone and keys in one hand, or carrying a bag you did not want. Our textured cut has two zipped pockets set into the side seams, deep enough for a phone, sitting inside the seam so they do not break the line of the cloth. The zip matters more than the pocket does. An open pocket in a loose garment empties itself the moment you sit down in a rickshaw.

What Korean Nida is

Almost nobody selling abayas online here explains the fabric, so here it is. Nida is a matte crepe woven from fine polyester filament, and Korean Nida is the finer grade of it. Three things matter in daily wear. It is properly opaque, which counts for something worn as outerwear in daylight. It falls straight rather than clinging, because the crepe weave carries weight without bulk. And it stays matte under light instead of going shiny, which is the quickest way to tell it from the cheap polyester in low priced abayas, even in a photograph. Against the other cloths you will come across, georgette is lighter and more sheer, jersey stretches and follows the body, and lawn creases by midday. Nida sits between them and comes through a full day without a crease down the front.

Choosing a colour

Black stays the most worn and is the safest first buy. It goes with everything and does not show wear. Navy, charcoal grey, slate grey and pebble grey read as formal without being black, which suits office or university. Brown, toffee, taupe, burgundy and forest green sit better through winter. Baby pink, French lilac and deep lilac are the lighter end, and with any pale colour you want a full slip underneath and a check in daylight before a long day out.

Ramadan, Eid and Umrah

Demand here climbs from about a month before Ramadan and stays high through Eid, so if you want a specific colour or a custom length for those weeks, order early. Popular colours go first and a made to measure piece needs time on the table. For Umrah or Hajj, weight and creasing matter more than usual, because you wear it for long hours and wash it in a hotel sink. Nida dries fast and comes out of a suitcase without pressing. Take two, and take the pockets.

What Rs 5,000 buys

Specialist modest wear brands in Pakistan price abayas from about Rs 4,990 to Rs 6,490, in fixed sizes only, with the scarf sold separately at another Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,650. Ours is Rs 5,000, cut to your length, with zipped pockets on the textured cut. We stitch on our own floor and ship textiles by the container to buyers in the US, UK, Dubai, Italy, Saudi Arabia and Canada. You can read more about us, and if you would rather buy cloth by the metre and stitch it yourself, see our unstitched fabric.

Washing and care

Cold water, gentle cycle or hand wash, no bleach. Dry in shade rather than on a Lahore roof in June, because strong sun dulls the matte finish and fades dark dyes within a season. If it needs pressing, use a cool iron on the reverse. A hot iron glazes polyester and leaves a shiny mark that does not come out. Close the zips before washing so the sliders do not catch the cloth.

Buying online instead of the bazaar

Plenty of women in Lahore still buy nida by the metre from Azam Cloth Market or Shah Alam Market and take it to a darzi. You feel the cloth first and you get your own length, which is a real advantage. What it costs you is two trips and two to three weeks. Our office is at Office No 40, Street No 6, Bhogiwal Road, Lahore. We sell online only, so there is no counter to visit. For a soft cotton wrap to keep at home, see our bathrobes.

Delivery and exchange

Nationwide, two to six days depending on your city, cash on delivery. Seven days to request a replacement under our return and exchange policy. You can track your order, read how to order, or contact us before ordering to check a length.

Common questions

What is a stoler?

A long rectangular scarf worn with an abaya. Longer and heavier than a chiffon hijab, so it holds its fold without pins and stays put through the day.

What is Korean Nida fabric?

A matte crepe woven from fine polyester filament. It is opaque, falls straight without clinging, and stays matte under light instead of going shiny like cheaper polyester.

What length abaya do I need for my height?

Roughly 52 inches for five feet to five two, 54 for five three to five five, 56 for five six to five eight, and 58 above that. Add one size if you wear heels. Tell us your height and we confirm before cutting.

Can I order a custom length or colour?

Yes. If none of the standard lengths suits you, or you want a colour or design we do not list, call or message 0324 492 4274 and we make it.

Do your abayas have pockets?

The textured cut has two zipped pockets set into the side seams, deep enough for a phone. The plain open cut does not.

What is the difference between the open and closed cut?

The open cut fastens at the front and goes on over your clothes, so the fit is forgiving. The closed cut is one piece and needs the length right from the start.

How do I wash a nida abaya?

Cold water, gentle cycle, no bleach, dry in shade. Press on the reverse with a cool iron, because a hot one glazes polyester permanently.

When should I order for Ramadan or Eid?

At least a month ahead. Colours sell through in that period and a custom length needs time to make.