Before the event
Hang the garment to release folds. Steam gently from a distance — never iron directly over coins, beads, or mirrorwork.
Garment care
Kept like the heirloom it is.
Afghan ceremonial dress is heavy with coinwork, beadwork, and mirrorwork — and it rewards a little ritual. Here is how to steam, wear, store, and return a piece so it photographs like the first day for years of celebrations.
A cultural object first
Treat the dress as heritage, not laundry.
Every piece we hand over carries the hours that went into it — rows of coins, lapis beads worked by hand, mirrors set into thread. Care is not a chore at the end of the night. It is part of wearing something made with this much intention.
Cared forBefore · during · after
HeatSteam only, never iron
StorageFlat, dark, breathing
RepairsRe-secured by hand
Steam, never ironDress last, undress firstStore flat and darkSpecialists for the rest
The essentials
Four notes that keep a piece its best.
The short version, for the days around your event. The detail follows below.
“Look after the work, and the dress keeps the night it was made for.”The Atelier
Wearing it well
Apply perfume and makeup before dressing. Keep heavy bags off embellished panels and store jewellery contact points carefully.
After the event
Air the piece, spot-check embellishment, and store flat or on a padded hanger away from direct light and damp.
Rental returns
Return in the supplied garment bag by the agreed date. We handle specialist cleaning and any restoration.
200+
Coins on a single bodice
3
Steps before you wear it
0
Direct iron on embellishment
100%
Rental restoration handled
Before · during · after
The full ritual, step by step.
Three short windows of care — getting ready, the night itself, and the morning after. None of it takes long, and all of it protects the work.
CoinworkSteam from inside, keep it dry
Lapis beadworkOut of direct light
Velvet & silkHang to relax, never iron
Mirror & threadSteam at a distance only
Before — steamingBefore the event
Steam gently, never iron over the work.
Heat and pressure are the two things embellishment cannot take. A flat iron will scorch metallic thread, crack mirrors, and dull the shine of coinwork in a single pass. Steam relaxes the fabric without ever touching the surface.
- Hang the piece overnight so creases relax on their own
- Steam from the inside, holding the head a hand's width away
- Move with the grain of the fabric, never pressing onto coins or mirrors
- Let the garment cool and dry fully before folding or hanging again
During — wearingWearing it well
Perfume and makeup first, dress last.
Most marks on a ceremonial dress arrive before anyone leaves the house. Fragrance, hairspray, and foundation all stain pale thread and cloud mirrorwork. Finish getting ready, then step into the piece.
- Perfume, hairspray, and makeup come first — then the dress
- Dress over a smooth underlayer to protect skin from beadwork edges
- Carry a clutch on the wrist so straps stay off embroidered panels
- Sit gently; gather the skirt rather than crushing the embellished hem
After — storingStoring it right
Flat, dark, and breathing.
Weighty pieces stretch and warp if they hang too long on a narrow hanger. Light fades reds and golds over the months between celebrations. Stored flat, in the dark, in something that breathes, a dress is ready for the next Eid or wedding.
- Air the piece for a day before it goes away
- Store flat in tissue, or on a wide padded hanger for lighter pieces
- Keep it out of direct light so reds and golds hold their depth
- Avoid damp cupboards; a breathable cotton bag beats plastic
Folded flat, in the dark, a piece is ready for the next Eid or wedding.
What to avoid
A few things that undo the work.
The quickest way to damage an embellished dress is also the most common. Keep these four off the list.
“The damage we see most often is heat, a wash drum, and a spray of perfume on cloth.”The Atelier
Hot irons
Never press an iron over coins, beads, mirrors, or metallic thread. Steam from a distance instead.
Machine washing
A wash drum tears embellishment and pulls thread. Spot-clean, then leave deeper cleaning to a specialist.
Perfume on fabric
Spray fragrance on skin, not the dress. Alcohol marks pale silk and dulls the surface of mirrorwork.
Plastic and damp
Sealed plastic traps moisture and tarnishes coins. Use a breathable bag in a dry, dark place.
Rental returnsAfter a rental
Return it as it came — we handle the rest.
Renting a ceremonial piece should be the easy part, including the end of it. There is no cleaning to arrange and nothing to risk. Fold the dress back into the garment bag it arrived in, send it by the agreed date, and the boutique takes care of steaming, specialist cleaning, and any restoration.
- Return in the supplied garment bag by your agreed date
- Use the prepaid label or arrange a Melbourne drop-off
- Leave loose coins or beads in the bag — we re-secure them
- Specialist cleaning and restoration are included
You doFold back into the bag
We doSteam · clean · restore
Loose coinsRe-secured by hand
Travel & handover
Care that travels with the dress.
Whether a piece is collected in Melbourne or shipped worldwide, it leaves us packed to arrive ready to wear.
Checked & steamed
Every piece is inspected, steamed, and presented before it leaves the boutique.
Packed in tissue
Folded along its seams with acid-free tissue between the embellished layers.
Shipped or handed over
Collected locally or sent worldwide with a care kit and clear unpacking notes.
Ready to wear
A short hang to relax the folds and the piece is set for the celebration.
Care questions
The things clients ask most.
Washing, loose coins, creases without an iron, packing for travel, and what a rental return really involves — the short answers that keep the work intact.
Can I wash an embellished Afghan dress at home?
No. Coinwork, beadwork, and mirrorwork should never go through a washing machine or a home wash. Spot-clean small marks with a barely damp cloth, and leave anything more to a specialist who works with ceremonial textiles. If you own the piece, ask us for a trusted recommendation.
What if a coin or bead comes loose?
It happens with heavily worked pieces, and it is easily mended. Keep the loose coin or bead in a small envelope and bring it to us — we re-secure it by hand so the repair disappears into the original work. Do not glue it yourself.
How do I get creases out without an iron?
Hang the dress in a steamy bathroom for twenty minutes, or steam it gently from a distance. Heavy folds usually fall out on their own after a night on a wide hanger. Keep any iron well away from coins, mirrors, and metallic thread.
How should I pack a dress for travel?
Fold along the existing seams with acid-free tissue between the layers, embellished side inward, and lay it flat at the top of the case. For bridal and multi-look sets we provide a structured garment bag and packing notes so the piece arrives ready to wear.
Do rentals need cleaning before I return them?
No. Return the piece in the supplied garment bag by the agreed date and leave the rest to us. Specialist cleaning, steaming, and any restoration are part of the rental service, so you never have to risk the embellishment yourself.
Questions about a piece
Not sure how to care for yours?
Send a photo of the embellishment and tell us how you plan to wear and store it. We will write back with care notes made for that exact dress.