Wash and Care Instructions

Every Qaara bag is hand-embroidered and hand-embellished — beadwork, pearls, sequins and appliqué stitched by hand, in runs of ten or fewer. Pieces like this aren't fragile, but they are particular. Treat yours the way you'd treat anything irreplaceable: with a little ritual.

The House Rules

Three things, before anything else:

Water is not her friend. Never machine wash, hand wash, soak, or scrub a Qaara bag. Water loosens hand-stitching, dulls beads, and can permanently mark pearls and fabric.

Perfume goes on you, not on her. Fragrance, hairspray, makeup, and hand cream can stain fabric and strip the lustre from pearls and beads. Finish getting ready first — the bag goes on last.

She rides above the crowd. Keep her off the floor, away from rain, and clear of anything that snags — rings, bracelets, zips, sequinned dupattas.

Cleaning

After each wear: hold her upside down and give a gentle shake to empty crumbs and dust, then sweep the surface lightly with a clean, dry, soft-bristled makeup brush or a dry microfiber cloth. Always brush in the direction of the embroidery, never against it.

For a small mark on fabric: barely dampen a cotton swab with plain cold water (wrung until almost dry), and dab — never rub — only the marked spot. Blot with a dry cloth and let her air-dry flat, away from sun and heat. Do not use soap, detergent, stain removers, wet wipes, alcohol, or sanitiser on any part of the bag.

For pearls and beadwork: a dry, soft cloth only. Nothing wet, nothing chemical — their shine is natural and cannot be restored once stripped.

For anything bigger than a small mark: stop. Don't experiment. Take her to a dry cleaner who specialises in couture and embellished pieces (call ahead and ask specifically), or write to us first — we'd rather guide you than have you risk her.

Storage

Between wears, she rests the way she arrived:

1. Empty her completely and give the gentle brush-down above.
2. Fill her softly with acid-free tissue (or clean, unprinted tissue) so she holds her shape. Never newspaper — the ink transfers.
3. Keep her in the dust bag provided with your order. Never plastic — fabric needs to breathe, and trapped moisture breeds mildew.
4. Store upright on a shelf, away from direct sunlight, heaters, and damp walls. Don't stack anything on top of her, and don't hang her by the handle for long stretches — it strains the hardware.

Monsoon note: in humid months, air her out in a dry room for a few hours every few weeks. Humidity is the quiet enemy of hand embroidery.

Wearing Her Well

She's built for evenings, celebrations, and being seen — not for carrying your whole life. Keep her light: phone, cards, lipstick. Pens and kajal travel inside a pouch. Sharp-edged keys get a corner of their own. And if the sky looks moody, she stays home — one downpour can undo months of a karigar's handwork.

If a Bead Comes Loose

It happens, even in couture. The rule: never pull.

If you see a loose thread or bead, don't tug it and don't cut close to the embroidery — trim any long loose thread to about a centimetre and leave it. Save any beads that come away. Then write to us at houseofqaara@gmail.com or WhatsApp us at +91 98180 08378 with a photo, and we'll tell you exactly what to do next. Hand-embellished pieces are almost always repairable when caught early.

Care at a Glance

Do: dry brush after wear · store stuffed, in the dust bag provided · keep away from perfume, water, and sunlight · travel with her in a protective case · come to us the moment something loosens.

Never: machine wash · soak or scrub · use wipes, sanitiser, or chemicals · store in plastic · iron · leave in a hot car · pull a loose thread.

Cared for this way, a Qaara bag doesn't age — she matures.