How Pre-Orders and Delivery Dates Work at Aham

A pre-order means the saree you want isn't in our warehouse today — it's being made, restocked, or finished — and you're reserving it now to have it shipped the moment it's ready. You pay when you order, we dispatch when it arrives, and we tell you roughly when that will be. That's the whole idea. This page explains how it works, so you can order with confidence and know exactly what to expect.

Why some products are pre-order

A few honest reasons a piece might be pre-order rather than in-stock:

• It's handmade to order. Much of what we sell is genuinely handworked — twine cutwork, hand embroidery, customised pieces. These are made in limited counts, and sometimes the one you want is still on the artisan's table.
• It's restocking. A popular design has sold through and a fresh lot is on its way to us from the weaver or supplier.
• It's a new or seasonal collection releasing in phases — you're reserving ahead of the general release.
• It's being customised for you — a specific size, blouse, or alteration that takes a little time.

Pre-order is not a delay for its own sake. It's how a boutique that sells real handloom and handwork lets you claim a piece that would otherwise be gone.

How it works, step by step

1. You order and pay as normal. The product page will show that the item is a pre-order.
2. We confirm the expected dispatch window — the rough timeframe in which your order will ship. It's an estimate, honestly given, not a guaranteed date.
3. Your piece is made, finished, or restocked. For handworked items this is real craft time; for restocks it's transit from the weaver.
4. We dispatch and send you tracking the moment it's ready, and it reaches you by our normal shipping timelines from there.

How long does a pre-order take?

It depends on why the item is pre-order, and the honest answer is a range rather than a single date:

• Restocks are usually the quickest — a matter of days to a couple of weeks, depending on the supplier.
• Handworked and customised pieces take longer, because the work is real. Cutwork, hand embroidery and made-to-measure stitching cannot be rushed without showing it.
• Seasonal pre-orders ship around the collection's release date.

The specific window for your item is what we confirm at the time of order. If a date matters to you — a wedding, Onam, a Vishu gift — tell us before you order and we'll tell you honestly whether we can make it. We would far rather say no to a deadline than miss it.

Festival and wedding timing — order early

This is the one piece of advice that prevents almost every disappointment. Around Onam, Vishu and the wedding season, both handwork and stitching queues fill up fast, and every tailoring unit in Kerala is at capacity. A pre-order or a customised piece placed well before the season will arrive comfortably; the same order placed in the final fortnight is a gamble.

If you know you'll need something for a dated occasion, order it as early as you reasonably can. Working backwards from the date is always the safe way.

Customisation and pre-order

Made-to-measure and customised pieces — a specific blouse, a particular size, an alteration, a bridal design — are naturally pre-order, because they're made for you. Our stitching and customisation are handled in-house, so we can give you a realistic timeline for your specific request. Start that conversation on our customisation page or by messaging us with the date you need it for.

A few common questions

Can I mix pre-order and in-stock items in one order? It's usually best to order them separately so your in-stock pieces aren't held back waiting for the pre-order. If you've combined them and want the ready items sent first, just message us.

Will the pre-order date always be exact? No — and we won't pretend otherwise. It's a genuine estimate. Real handwork occasionally runs a little long, and we'd rather give you an honest window than a false promise. We'll keep you updated if anything changes.

What if I need it by a specific date? Ask us before ordering. We'll tell you truthfully whether it's achievable. This is the single most useful thing you can do.

How will I know it's shipped? You'll receive dispatch confirmation and tracking as soon as your piece leaves us.

Ready to look?

Browse what's available now in the Pre-Orders collection. For anything time-sensitive, message us with your date first — we'll confirm the window honestly, and if we can't meet a deadline, we'll tell you rather than let you down. That's the whole basis on which we'd want to be bought from.