The State of Plus Size Pakistani Fashion
For too long, Pakistani fashion brands sized out at what would be a Canadian L or XL. That's changing — driven partly by the Pakistani Canadian community's feedback and partly by growing awareness within Pakistan's fashion industry itself. Here's who's actually serving plus size customers well.
The Advantage of Pakistani Fashion for Plus Size Women
Before the brand guide, one important point: the traditional shalwar kameez silhouette is genuinely more flattering for a wider range of body types than most Western fashion. The loose kameez with drawstring shalwar is adjustable, forgiving, and elegant regardless of size. You don't need to fight the garment — it's designed to drape beautifully.
Brands That Go Beyond XL
Khaadi offers sizes through 3XL in most of their ready-to-wear and some lawn collections. Their cotton and karandi pieces are particularly reliable in larger sizes.
Gul Ahmed sells a significant portion of their range as unstitched fabric — meaning you take it to a tailor and have it made to your exact measurements. This bypasses the sizing problem entirely. Their fabric quality at larger cuts is exactly the same as smaller sizes.
Independent brands on Ruyte — many smaller brands on the platform do custom orders and can accommodate plus sizes on request. Look for brands that list "custom stitching available" in their shop description.
The Unstitched Solution
For plus size Pakistani fashion, unstitched fabric is genuinely the best option. You're not constrained by a brand's ready-to-wear sizing. Find a fabric you love, buy it, and take it to a local Pakistani tailor in Mississauga, Brampton, or wherever you are in Canada. The stitching cost is typically $30–$60 and the result fits your body, not a model's body.
Measurements to Take to Your Tailor
- Chest circumference (fullest point)
- Waist circumference
- Hip circumference (fullest point)
- Kameez length (shoulder to desired hem)
- Sleeve length
- Inseam length for shalwar
Browse unstitched fabric on Ruyte — filter by "unstitched" to find pieces you can have made to your measurements.