About Qissa from Afrozeh Dastangoi 2026

Qissa means a tale, and this is the quietest design in the Afrozeh Dastangoi 2026 collection. The embroidery is tonal - thread worked in the same light grey as the organza base rather than in a contrasting colour - so the surface reads as texture from a distance and only resolves into detail up close. That restraint is the point. Where the collection's pinks and golds announce themselves, Qissa relies on the density of its panel work, which runs to eighteen separate embroidered shirt pieces before the dupatta is counted.

Fabric Details

• Shirt - embroidered organza
• Dupatta - embroidered organza
• Trouser - dyed raw silk, four yards
• Colour - light grey
• Type - unstitched three-piece

What Arrives in the Set

The front is supplied in three tiers: left and right side panels with two patches, mid right and mid left panels with two patches, and a further pair of side panels with two more patches. The back follows the same logic with two centre right and two centre left panels carrying four patches between them, plus back side left and right panels with two patches. Two sleeves are included with head working. The dupatta is 1.98 metres with two pallu sections and a 0.66 metre pallu jall. The trouser is four yards of dyed raw silk.

The Embroidery

Tonal embroidery is harder to photograph than contrast work and better in person, which is worth knowing before you order. On Qissa the threadwork is light grey on light grey with shimmering embellishment worked through it, so what carries the design is the raised texture of the stitching and the way embellishment catches light rather than any colour difference. The pallu jall - a 0.66 metre section of open net-style work - is the one place the dupatta breaks from solid embroidery, and it gives the drape somewhere to breathe.

Stitching and Styling

Eighteen shirt pieces arranged in tiers means Qissa is designed for a panelled, gently flared cut rather than a straight shirt. The patches are meant to sit at the joins between panels, so ask your tailor to lay everything out and confirm the arrangement before any cutting begins. Organza is crisp and holds a flare well, which is why this construction works. A lining is required - a light grey or ivory crepe keeps the tonal effect intact, while a darker slip will change how the embroidery reads. The four yards of raw silk suit a straight trouser or a light gharara.

Which Occasion Qissa Suits

Light grey with tonal work is a nikah and walima colour more than a sangeet one. It suits guests who want to look finished without competing with the bride, and it works in both daylight and indoor lighting because there is no strong colour to shift. If you want ivory and gold in the same register, Hikayat in off white is the closest match in the collection.

Care and Storage

• Dry clean only - do not machine wash and do not wring.
• Do not bleach. Light grey shows watermarks, so keep it away from damp.
• Store in a cotton cover - organza snags on rough surfaces and zips.

Related Designs and Reading

The other organza designs in this range are Sukhan in light pista, Dastaan-e-Noor in light peach and Afsaan in lemon. Our Afrozeh Dastangoi 2026 fabric guide compares all four fabric bases in the collection. You can browse more of the label at Afrozeh at Aangan, or see silk options in Afrozeh Divani Silk.

Is Qissa stitched or unstitched?

Unstitched. You receive embroidered organza shirt panels and patches, an organza dupatta and four yards of raw silk trouser fabric. Aangan does not stitch - your own tailor cuts to your measurements.

What fabric is Qissa made from?

The shirt and dupatta are both embroidered organza, and the trouser is dyed raw silk. The colour is light grey.

What does tonal embroidery mean?

The thread is worked in the same shade as the base fabric rather than a contrasting colour. The design reads as texture and shimmer rather than as pattern, and generally looks better in person than in photographs.

How many pieces make up the shirt?

Eighteen embroidered pieces across the front and back, arranged in tiers with matching patches at the panel joins, plus two sleeves with head working.

What lining should be used?

A light grey or ivory crepe keeps the tonal effect intact. A darker lining will change how the embroidery reads through the sheer organza.

Which occasion does Qissa suit?

Nikah and walima functions more than sangeets. Light grey works in both daylight and indoor lighting, and suits guests who want to look finished without competing with the bride.

How should it be cared for?

Dry clean only. Do not bleach, do not machine wash, do not wring, and dry in shade. Light grey shows watermarks, so keep it away from damp.

Is this original Afrozeh?

Yes. Aangan stocks original Afrozeh fabric from the Dastangoi 2026 collection. Fabric composition and piece counts follow the label's own specification.