Short answer. Our embroidered shirts are cotton, short-sleeved and cut relaxed with a Cuban collar. Every one is embroidered by hand in Bulandshahr. There are four families: mirror work, floral, black and resort. Prices run from about ₹1,999 to about ₹4,147. Most sit near ₹2,000.
A shirt is the hardest garment we embroider. The cloth is thin, the placket and collar get in the way of the hoop, and any pucker shows. So the collection is small.
Here's what's in it, and how to choose.
Four kinds of embroidered shirt
Tap one to see what it is and where it goes.
Mirror work. Small mirrors held down by a ring of stitches. It's the dressiest family we make, and the one that must be washed by hand.
Floral. Thread flowers on cream or white cotton. The densest ones, such as the Bagicha, cover the whole front and sit at the top of the price range.
Black. Cream or white thread on a black base, so the stitching does all the talking. Wash these with darks for the first few washes.
Resort. Banana leaves, coconut palms, a coastline, a Bengal tiger. One clear motif on a plain shirt, and the easiest family to wear with jeans.
The cut and the cloth
Every shirt here shares the same pattern, so you only have to learn the fit once.
- Cotton or cotton poplin. Poplin is a smooth, tightly woven cotton that holds a crisp shape in the heat.
- Cuban collar and short sleeves. The collar lies open and flat, with no stand.
- A relaxed, unisex cut. Take your usual size for an easy drape, or one size down for a closer fit. The size chart has the measurements.
- Embroidered by hand. No two shirts carry exactly the same arrangement.
Mirror work shirts
Shisha is the old craft of fixing small mirrors to cloth with thread. There's no glue in it. Each mirror is held by a ring of stitches worked around its edge, which is why the work takes so long.
These are the shirts for a sangeet, a festival or a wedding where a kurta feels like too much. What mirror work is and where it comes from tells the longer story, and the mirror work shirts are all in one place.
Floral and garden shirts
Flowers, vines, bees and the odd palm tree, stitched in cotton thread on cream or white. Some carry a single spray on the chest. The Bagicha covers the whole front with a garden scene, and it costs the most.
Black shirts
Pale thread on black reads from across a room. The Paisley shirt runs its motifs along the collar and placket, with small mirrors set in by hand. The Kala X carries a bold cross-stitched X pattern, and it closes with wooden buttons.
Resort and wildlife shirts
One clear motif on a plain shirt: banana leaves, a coconut palm, a coastline, a Royal Bengal tiger. These are the easiest to wear.
What they cost
| Family | Price |
|---|---|
| Resort and wildlife | about ₹1,999 to ₹2,488 |
| Black | about ₹1,999 to ₹2,576 |
| Mirror work | about ₹2,073 to ₹2,464 |
| Floral and garden | about ₹2,072 to ₹4,147 |
The price follows the hours. A single motif on one side of the chest takes a few hours. A front filled with flowers takes several times as long, and that's the difference between ₹2,000 and ₹4,000.
How to wear one
- Open, over a plain tee. The Cuban collar is cut for it.
- Buttoned, with linen trousers or chinos, for a day wedding or a mehendi.
- With jeans. Any of the resort shirts, any weekend.
- Mirror work with a plain bottom half. Let the shirt be the only thing that shines.
How to wash one
Wash by hand in cold water, inside out, and dry flat in shade. That's the rule for every shirt here, and mirror work has no exception to it: a machine drum can crack a mirror or work it loose.
Iron from the reverse, with a cloth between the iron and the stitching. The full laundry routine goes step by step.
Can a shirt be personalised?
Our made-to-order range is mostly tees, sweatshirts and hoodies, where a name or a date goes on the chest. If you'd like initials on a shirt cuff or a change to one of these designs, message us on WhatsApp with a reference picture and we'll tell you what's possible before you pay.
Choosing a design? Hand embroidery designs for men's shirts goes through placements and motifs one by one.
Frequently asked questions
Are your embroidered shirts hand embroidered or machine embroidered?
Hand embroidered. Every shirt is stitched by women artisans at our studio in Bulandshahr, and there's no embroidery machine there.
What fabric are the shirts made of?
Cotton or cotton poplin, depending on the design. Both are light and breathable, and suited to Indian summers.
Are the shirts for men or women?
The cut is relaxed and unisex, with a Cuban collar and short sleeves. Take your usual size for a loose fit, or one size down for a closer one.
How much does a hand-embroidered shirt cost?
From about ₹1,999 to about ₹4,147 on our store. Most are near ₹2,000, and the most heavily embroidered floral shirts cost the most.
Can I machine wash an embroidered shirt?
We recommend hand washing every shirt, in cold water and inside out. Mirror work shirts should never go in a machine.
Who wrote this
Vee Threads is a hand-embroidery studio in Kutubpur, Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, run by Mansi and Vikash. Every piece is stitched by hand by women artisans who live within walking distance of the studio. There is no embroidery machine on the premises, and we have shipped more than 5,000 orders. Mansi runs the studio and quality control. Vikash handles the digital side.
Fabric weights and prices quoted here are from our own product pages: 220 GSM cotton tees, 350 GSM fleece sweatshirts, 400 GSM fleece hoodies and acid-wash denim caps. Browse hand embroidered t-shirts, embroidered sweatshirts and caps, or start a custom order.
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