Questions, answered
Everything customers, sellers and tailors ask us most, in one place. Anything else, a person reads every message at hello@silai.app.
Silai is a marketplace that connects you directly with independent tailor shops for custom-made Indian ethnic wear, plus a Pre-Loved rack of second-hand custom outfits. Your phone camera takes your measurements, so tailors can stitch for you without an in-person fitting and Pre-Loved buyers can see whether a piece fits before they buy.
You record a short video of yourself with your phone (it works only on a phone; on a laptop you get a QR code to continue on your phone). Silai analyses the video and estimates your full naap: bust, waist, hips, arm length, height and more, usually in about a minute. You can also type measurements in manually if you prefer.
Close to a tape measure for most bodies. On average each measurement lands within about 2% of the true value: if your hip is really 100 cm, the estimate is usually between 98 and 102 cm. Entering your bra band size calibrates the girth measurements further, and following the on-screen instructions keeps the estimate as close as possible. Your tailor always receives the full naap and can ask you to confirm a key number for critical pieces.
Nothing. Silai is free for customers, tailors, and sellers, and takes no commission on any order. The website is supported by advertising. The only paid feature is an optional boost that features a Pre-Loved listing at the top of the rack: 1.99 USD for 3 days, 3.99 for 7, or 6.99 for 14.
Directly with your tailor or seller, in whatever way you both agree: UPI, bank transfer, e-transfer, cash on pickup. Silai never touches the money and cannot process refunds, so agree on price and terms clearly in chat before paying.
You and the seller do, in chat, the same way you agree price. Courier or pickup both work. When you are near each other, local pickup is convenient: no shipping cost, you get the piece the same day, and you can see it in person.
Agreed per order. Some customers courier their own fabric to the tailor; many tailors source fabric for you and include it in the quoted price. Decide together in chat before the order starts.
Each tailor quotes their own turnaround in chat. Typical stitching takes about 1 to 3 weeks plus shipping, but the tailor's quote is what counts; Silai sets no deadline.
Orders and payments happen directly between you and the tailor or seller, so resolutions do too; Silai does not mediate, refund, or guarantee. The measurements exist to prevent exactly this, so rely on them up front, and if something is off, ask your tailor about alterations.
A second-hand rack of custom-made outfits. Every listing stores the measurements the piece was made for, so you can filter the rack by your own naap and every listing shows you a fit score and a chart comparing the garment to your body. Listings are free, stay editable, and expire after 365 days.
Silai compares every measurement you and the garment share, up to ten of them, from bust and waist to shoulder width and arm length. Pieces that would be more than about 10% tight anywhere are ruled out; the score summarises how close the rest sit to your body.
Yes. Silai is fully global: tailors, sellers, and buyers can join from any country, and the scan works anywhere. Distance only affects the shipping arrangements you make with the other side.
The video frames used for measurement are deleted automatically after processing; only the resulting measurements stay on your account, and they are shared only with a tailor or seller you order from or contact. Old scans you stop using are removed after a year (your most recent one is always kept). See the Privacy page for the full picture.
Registration is free and takes about 5 minutes: shop name, contact details, and your city. If you already shop on Silai as a customer, you can open your shop with the same email and password. You post listings from a simple workroom dashboard, and every listing page gives you a share link, QR code, and a ready-made Instagram poster to put on the ads you already run.