Indian & Pakistani Clothes in Jersey City, NJ

Meet Shagufta, a Jersey City seller

Shagufta's Desi Collection is a one-woman shop. Shagufta, who is Pakistani, runs it herself from Jersey City, and when you tap Order on WhatsApp your message goes straight to her. She is the person who answers your questions, confirms your order and sends it out.

Each listing carries her own short note under "In Shagufta's words", where she describes the fabric, the embroidery and the measurements the way she would tell a friend. The shop has branded and non-branded pieces, and every one of them is new.

Because most of her buyers are Indian, each listing is written so that someone who knows only kurtis and salwar suits can find their way around a Pakistani suit, and anyone can message her about a size or a color before ordering.

Indian and Pakistani words, side by side

The same outfit often has two names, and Shagufta uses both. What an Indian shopper calls a salwar kameez or salwar suit, a Pakistani shopper calls a shalwar kameez, a suit or simply a dress. A kurti is a tunic top, and a kurta is usually a little longer. A matching shirt and trouser is a kurta set or co-ord set in Indian shops and a 2-piece in Pakistani ones; add the dupatta, which some Indian families call a chunni, and it becomes a 3-piece.

Some words belong mostly to one side. Lawn and khaddar are Pakistani fabric names, for a fine summer cotton and a thicker winter one. Chikankari, the delicate thread embroidery from Lucknow, is an Indian craft that Pakistani women love too. The guide to Pakistani vs Indian suits explains how the cuts, lengths and trousers differ.

India Square, Newark Avenue and shopping online

Jersey City is in Hudson County, across the Hudson River from Manhattan. Ask where to find Indian clothes here and most people will point you to India Square, the stretch of Newark Avenue known for its Indian shops and restaurants. It is the city's best-known Indian shopping street, and a lively place to spend an afternoon.

Shagufta's Desi Collection is another way to shop from the same city. You can look through every piece on your phone at any hour, see all of its photos and its measurements in inches, ask Shagufta for a video, and decide at home without rushing. It works the same for a buyer in Hudson County as for one on the other side of the country.

How ordering works if you live nearby

Living close by doesn't change the steps. Tap Order on WhatsApp under a piece and WhatsApp opens with its name, price and link already typed, so you only need to press send. Buying more than one? Add them to your bag and send the whole list in one message. There is no checkout and no account to set up.

Shagufta then confirms the order on WhatsApp, tells you the shipping cost and agrees payment with you before anything is sent, and ships it from Jersey City. If you're unsure about a size or a color, ask first: she can send a video or extra photos of the piece. The how to order page walks through every step.

What you'll find in the shop

Most of the shop is everyday wear: cotton, viscose and linen kurtis, lawn and cotton suits, and the shalwars, tulip shalwars, palazzo pants and slim pants that go under them. For Diwali, Eid, a mehndi or a wedding there are party wear dresses in chiffon, silk, georgette and katan silk, embroidered organza dupattas, ajrak and chunri print shawls, and a girls' section with 2-piece and 3-piece outfits.

Women's sizes run from XS to 2XL, and the girls' outfits include sizes 10 and 12. Most kurtis and suits list their own chest, hips and length in inches, so compare them with something you already own, or read the size guide first. Prices run from $11 to $45, and there is a page of Indian and Pakistani clothes under $25 for anyone shopping on a budget.

Shopping for a particular day? Start with the occasion pages: wedding guest outfits for a sangeet, nikah or reception, mehndi and haldi outfits in yellow and green, and Diwali outfits and Eid outfits for the festivals. For everyday clothes, the salwar kameez page is the quickest way in.