Alterations · Parnell Street
Saree, blouse and lehenga alterations in Dublin 1
Alterations are done on the premises at 89/90 Parnell Street, Dublin 1 — not sent away. You are pinned and quoted before anything is cut, and you try the garment on again before you leave.
Walk in Tuesday to Saturday, 14:30–19:00. No appointment needed for alterations.
What we take in
The jobs that come through the door.
If it is sewn, it can usually be adjusted. These are the ones we do most often.
Saree blouse stitching
A new blouse from your own fabric, or re-fitting one that no longer sits right. Lined or unlined, with the back and sleeve style you choose.
Kameez, kurti and abaya fitting
Taken in or let out at the bust, waist and hip. The most common job we do, and the one where a centimetre in the wrong place shows most.
Lehenga waistband, cancan and hem
Waistbands shortened or rebuilt, cancan volume reduced if it is too stiff, hems levelled to the shoes you will actually wear.
Sleeve, hem and length shortening
The straightforward ones — sleeves, hems and lengths — usually ready in two to three days.
Taking in and letting out
Weight changes both ways. We will tell you honestly when there is not enough seam allowance to let a garment out.
Bridal and heavily embroidered work
Quoted after we see the piece, because beadwork and zari need hand-finishing and that changes the time it takes.
Prices
What things cost.
A hem is a fixed thing and we can quote it on the phone. A heavily embroidered lehenga is not, so it is quoted in the shop.
- Simple hem or sleeve shortening
- From €15
- Full kameez fitting (bust, waist, hip)
- €20–€35
- Saree blouse, stitched new
- Quoted on the fabric
- Lehenga waistband or hem
- Quoted on the piece
- Bridal and embroidered work
- Quoted after inspection
Simple alterations 2–3 days · full fittings 5–7 days · express same-day where the day allows.
How it works
Four steps, no surprises.
- 1
Bring the garment in
No appointment needed for alterations. Walk in during opening hours with the piece, and the shoes you will wear it with.
- 2
We pin and quote
You try it on, we pin it, and you get a price and a date before anything is cut. Nothing is charged for the quote.
- 3
It is done on the premises
Not sent away. That is why simple jobs take two to three days rather than weeks, and why we can usually fit a quick second adjustment.
- 4
Try it on again before you go
If something is still not right, it is adjusted while you are there rather than becoming another trip.
Measured in the shop, over the clothing you will wear underneath — which is the only way the measurement is worth anything.
Questions
The things people ask before they come.
Do I need an appointment for alterations?
No. Alterations are walk-in during opening hours — Tuesday to Saturday, 14:30 to 19:00. Only made-to-measure work needs a booked appointment.
How much does a saree blouse cost to stitch?
It depends on the fabric and the finish, so it is quoted once we see both. A simple hem or sleeve shortening starts at €15, and a full kameez fitting is usually €20–€35.
How long do alterations take?
Simple alterations are two to three days. Full fittings take five to seven. Express same-day work is often possible if you come in early — ask, and we will tell you honestly whether the day allows it.
Can you shorten a lehenga without losing the embroidery?
Usually yes. A hem is taken from the top edge or the lining where the work allows, and the embellished border is left intact. This is one of the reasons we quote after seeing the piece.
Do you alter clothes bought somewhere else?
Yes. We alter garments regardless of where they came from. Bring the piece and we will quote it.
What should I bring with me?
The garment, the shoes you intend to wear it with, and any underwear or petticoat that changes how it sits. Hem length is set from the heel, so the shoes matter more than people expect.
Can you let a garment out?
Sometimes. It depends entirely on how much seam allowance the maker left. Bring it in and we will look inside the seam before promising anything.
Do you do made-to-measure as well as alterations?
Yes — a garment cut to your measurements from scratch. That is a separate consultation, and it is worth arranging in advance rather than walking in.
Not sure whether it can be fixed?
Send a photograph on WhatsApp with a line about what you want changed. You will get an honest answer — including when the answer is that the seam allowance will not allow it.