How to Buy Indian Clothes From India When You Live Abroad

Your options for buying Indian clothes abroad

Many NRI families combine these: buy everyday pieces from local stores, order festival outfits online, and plan one shopping trip to India for weddings. If you visit Gujarat, our Surat saree shopping guide explains how to shop in one of India's biggest textile hubs.

Shopping in person: South Asian shopping areas abroad

If you prefer to see and touch the fabric, many cities with large Indian communities have well-known South Asian shopping streets where you can find sarees, lehengas, jewellery and tailoring:

• UK: Southall and Wembley (Ealing Road) in London, and Belgrave Road ("the Golden Mile") in Leicester.
• USA: Oak Tree Road in Edison and Iselin, New Jersey; Jackson Heights in Queens, New York; and Devon Avenue in Chicago.
• Canada: Gerrard Street East ("Little India") in Toronto, and many stores in Brampton and Mississauga.
• Singapore: Little India around Serangoon Road.
• Australia: Harris Park in Sydney, and Dandenong in Melbourne.

These areas are ideal for last-minute purchases, accessories, kids' wear and alterations. Prices are usually higher than in India and the range of handloom silks is smaller, so many families shop locally for everyday and party wear and order heirloom silks from India.

How to check authenticity when buying online

The biggest risk when buying online is paying pure-silk prices for polyester or "art silk", or for powerloom copies sold as handloom. Protect yourself with these checks:

• Silk Mark: genuine natural silk products can carry the Silk Mark label, a quality assurance scheme from the Silk Mark Organisation of India. Ask the seller whether the saree has a Silk Mark tag and ask for a photo of it.
• Handloom Mark and GI tags: many traditional weaves, such as Banarasi brocade, Kanchipuram silk and Patan Patola, are protected by Geographical Indication (GI). Sellers of authentic pieces can usually tell you the weaving cluster and show certificates.
• Video call: ask to see the saree on a live video call, especially for expensive silks. Look at the back of the fabric (handloom has small irregularities; powerloom is perfectly uniform), the zari and the pallu.
• Close-up photos: ask for photos of the reverse side, the border joins and the zari in natural daylight.
• Price sense: genuine handloom silk takes days or weeks to weave. If a "pure Kanjivaram" or "pure Banarasi" costs the same as a mall saree, be cautious. Our saree price guide explains realistic price ranges.
• Return or test policy: reputable sellers will accept a return if the fabric fails an authenticity test.

Once the saree arrives, you can do simple checks at home; our guide on how to identify pure silk explains the burn test, touch test and zari checks.

Sizing and stitching from far away

Fit is the second biggest problem after authenticity. A few rules make it much easier:

• Always work from your body measurements, not the size letter. See our Indian clothing size chart for conversions to US, UK, EU and AU sizes.
• For blouses, follow our blouse measurement guide, or send a well-fitting blouse to the tailor as a sample.
• Ask for seam allowance so a local tailor can adjust the fit later.
• Prefer ready-to-wear or made-to-measure pieces if you don't have a tailor who knows Indian clothing.
• Ask the store to add the fall and pico to sarees before shipping. It's quick in India and hard to find abroad.

Paying safely

• Use a credit card or PayPal where possible. Both usually offer some buyer protection if the item doesn't arrive or isn't as described.
• Avoid direct bank transfers to unknown sellers, especially sellers you found only through social media or messaging apps. Once sent, the money is very hard to recover.
• Check the currency and fees: some sites show prices in rupees and convert at checkout; your bank may add a foreign transaction fee. Compare the final amount.
• Look for clear contact details: a real address, phone number and return policy are good signs.
• Be wary of too-good-to-be-true deals on social media, especially "factory price pure silk" advertisements with stolen catalogue photos.
• Keep records: save screenshots of the listing, chat messages and payment receipts until the order arrives and you're happy with it.

Shipping times and couriers

Shipping from India usually goes one of two ways:

These are typical ranges, not guarantees. Customs checks, festival-season backlogs, weather and holidays can add days or weeks. Add stitching time (often one to two weeks) if your outfit is being tailored.

Rule of thumb: order at least 6–8 weeks before a wedding or festival, and 8–12 weeks for bridal pieces or anything that needs custom stitching. See our festival outfit calendar for order-by dates.

Customs duty and import taxes

When clothing is shipped from India to another country, it may be charged import duty, sales tax or VAT/GST, and a courier handling or brokerage fee. Who pays, and how much, depends on the destination country, the value of the parcel and the shipping terms.

DDP vs DDU: who pays the duty?

• DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): the seller pays the duties and taxes upfront, usually built into the price or shipping charge. Nothing extra to pay on delivery. This is the easiest option for buyers.
• DDU / DAP (Delivered Duty Unpaid / Delivered at Place): you pay the duties, taxes and handling fees when the parcel arrives, often before the courier will deliver it.

Always ask the seller which terms they use before ordering. An unexpected bill at the door is the most common complaint from NRI shoppers.

Country notes

• USA: import rules for goods from India changed significantly in 2025, including the end of duty-free treatment for many low-value parcels. Rates can change again, so check the current situation with your courier or U.S. Customs and Border Protection before ordering.
• UK: VAT is generally charged on imported goods, and for lower-value parcels it is often collected by the seller at checkout. Higher-value parcels may also attract customs duty and handling fees.
• Canada: GST/HST and possibly duty can apply above low thresholds, and couriers often add brokerage fees.
• Australia: GST applies to most imported goods; for lower-value goods it is usually collected by the seller at checkout, while higher-value imports go through formal customs clearance.
• UAE and the Gulf: customs duty and VAT can apply above set values; check with your courier.

Tip: the declared value on the parcel must be honest. Under-declaring to avoid duty is illegal and can lead to fines or the parcel being held.

Planning around weddings and festivals

The busiest months for Indian clothing shipments are the festival and wedding season, roughly from September to February, when Navratri, Diwali and the main wedding months overlap. Stores, tailors and couriers are all stretched.

• Shop early for Navratri and Diwali, ideally in August or early September.
• For a wedding, buy the main outfits 3 months ahead, and leave a buffer for alterations.
• Order one backup outfit you could wear if a parcel is delayed.
• Check our wedding guest guide to plan how many outfits you need.

Planning a bridal shopping trip to India

For a bride or the bride's family, a shopping trip to India is often worth it: the choice is enormous, prices are lower, and tailors can do fittings in person. To make the most of a short trip:

1. Go early: ideally 4 to 6 months before the wedding, so bridal lehengas and blouses can be stitched and altered before you fly back.
2. Make a list: every event, the outfit needed for each person, colour themes and a budget.
3. Plan by city: Varanasi for Banarasi silk, Kanchipuram or Chennai for Kanjivaram, Surat and Ahmedabad for Gujarati wear and fabric, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Jaipur for bridal lehengas and jewellery.
4. Book tailors on day one and schedule fittings before you leave. Leave an address in India for any final pieces to be couriered.
5. Check baggage limits and customs for your return flight; heavy lehengas and silks add weight quickly, and expensive jewellery may need to be declared.

When your parcel arrives

1. Record the unboxing on your phone for expensive orders. It helps if anything is damaged or missing.
2. Check against the photos: colour, design, border, pallu and blouse piece.
3. Inspect for damage: pulled threads, stains, broken zari, missing tassels or hooks.
4. Try stitched pieces on immediately, so any alteration can be done in time.
5. Contact the seller quickly if something is wrong. Most stores have short complaint windows.
6. Air the outfit before storing. Parcels can trap moisture during long journeys.

Understand returns before you buy. International returns can cost more than the item, and many stores only offer exchanges or store credit for overseas orders. Custom-stitched items are usually non-returnable.

Caring for your sarees in a different climate

Sarees woven for Indian weather behave differently in a cold, dry winter or a humid tropical summer. Central heating dries out silk, while humid climates encourage mould and can tarnish zari. Store silks in cotton or muslin cloth, never in plastic, add natural insect repellents like neem leaves or cedar, and refold your sarees every few months. Our silk saree care guide explains storage, stain removal and zari care in detail.

Your NRI shopping checklist

• Know your measurements (bust, waist, hips, length) and keep them saved on your phone.
• Check the seller's size chart, return policy and contact details.
• Ask about Silk Mark, handloom origin and a video call for expensive pieces.
• Confirm whether shipping is DDP or DDU, and the delivery estimate.
• Pay with a credit card or PayPal.
• Order 6–8 weeks ahead (8–12 for bridal or custom stitching).
• Record the unboxing and check everything on arrival.

Have a question about buying from India? Our international buyers page answers common questions, and you can always contact us.