The UK is one of our largest markets outside Pakistan, and nearly every UK order so far has been a lehenga choli. Each piece is made to order in Lahore and sent free by DHL or SkyNet to your UK address.
Below: what UK customers say, the delivery timeline, what import VAT and duty you should expect, and how our sizes compare with UK sizes.
What our UK customers say
"I ordered an outfit from Waqas Shah a year ago. They customised it perfectly and got it to me in good time. I thought their customer service was good. The outfit was beautiful. I have never had more compliments.
A year later, I asked if they would make me an outfit for a wedding, but gave them the challenge of getting it to me in 3 weeks! I'm in the UK. They immediately said yes. Several days later, I asked if they would make my sister an outfit and customise it entirely, and deliver for the same date. They agreed. I was delayed in getting the measurements to them, but they still managed to get both outfits to me in good time for the wedding. The outfits were absolutely beautiful, and fitted like a dream.
But what sets this dressmaker/designer apart from other designers, is their customer service. They are incredibly reliable, and honest, which can be a rare thing, when ordering from Pakistan. If they promise to do something they will do it, AND do it incredibly well. I am so impressed by their attention to detail, the quality of their clothes and their customer service.
Truly truly an impressive experience from start to finish, on BOTH occasions, showing this is not a fluke, but a determination to provide their customers with the best experience. They truly delivered. I can't praise them highly enough. I will continue using them."
— Zaiban, United Kingdom, reviewed on Google
"I ordered 3 dresses from UK and the quality of fabric and work is fabulous and classy. I'm personally satisfied from their services, everything is properly managed and the delivery of the dress is on the time."
— Maria Khan, United Kingdom, reviewed on Google
Timeline for a UK delivery
| What you order | Made in | Then delivery to the UK |
|---|---|---|
| Ready to Ship | Dispatched in 24–48 hours | 4–11 days |
| Luxury Pret | About 4 weeks | 4–11 days |
| Luxury Formals | 5–6 weeks | 4–11 days |
| Bridals | 10–12 weeks in total, delivery included | |
Delivery is free and fully tracked from Lahore to your door. For a wedding, place a bridal order at least three months before the date; if you are closer than that, tell us the date first and we will say honestly whether we can make it.
Duty and VAT on UK orders
Your order is shipped DDU — delivered duty unpaid — so UK import charges are payable by you, not by us. It is worth understanding how they work before you order.
The £135 line. Consignments with an intrinsic value of £135 or less arrive free of customs duty. Above £135, customs duty applies at the rate set by the commodity code for the item. Most of our bridal and formal pieces sit above £135, so duty will normally apply.
VAT applies either way. The £135 threshold relieves duty only, never VAT. Import VAT is charged at the standard 20% rate on the customs value, which includes the goods plus freight, plus any duty already added.
Plus a clearance fee. The courier charges its own customs clearance or handling fee (with DHL, typically in the region of £8 to £15) on top of the duty and VAT.
How it works in practice: The courier clears your parcel, then contacts you directly before delivery to collect what is owed. You pay the courier, not us, and the parcel is released once that is settled.
We cannot tell you the exact figure in advance, because it depends on the commodity code for your particular piece and its declared value. What we can do is declare your order accurately and provide the documentation the courier needs, so clearance is as quick as possible.
One change worth knowing about: the UK government has confirmed that the £135 customs duty relief will be removed by October 2028. After that, duty is expected to apply to parcels of any value. It does not affect orders placed today, but if you are reading this later, check the current position.
Paying in sterling, charged in rupees
From a UK connection, prices appear in pounds as a guide. At checkout the charge is made in Pakistani rupees: Shopify Payments does not operate in Pakistan, so our payment gateway settles in rupees.
Your bank sets the exchange rate on the day. Some UK cards add a non-sterling transaction fee of around 1 to 3%, and several charge nothing, so check yours. We are happy to confirm the sterling figure on WhatsApp before you order.
UK sizing
Our pieces are cut XXS to XL, and other sizes are made to measure. Against UK dress sizes:
XXS — UK 2
XS — UK 4–6
S — UK 8–10
M — UK 12–14
L — UK 16–18
XL — UK 20–22
Made to your measurements
You cannot try a lehenga on from Leeds or London, so made-to-measure does the work a fitting room would. Most designs are adjusted at no extra cost: waist, sleeve length and neckline depth.
Lahore is 4 hours ahead of the UK in summer and 5 hours in winter, so a message sent in your morning is usually answered the same day. WhatsApp +92 310 0001250.
How a piece goes from your first WhatsApp message to a finished outfit is set out step by step in The Waqas Shah Experience.
Popular with UK brides
Bridal Lehenga Choli
Bridal Dresses
Nikkah Dresses
Reception and Walima Dresses
Going to an Indian wedding instead? A lehenga choli or gharara is worn at both, as is a pishwas, also known as an anarkali, and a saree range is there too.
Guides for our other markets: The USA · Canada · Australia · The UAE · Europe · All guides for brides abroad
Questions
WhatsApp +92 310 0001250 or email waqasshahofficial@gmail.com. Delivery and return terms are in our Shipping Policy and Refund Policy.