Almari Couture

Verified by N49

I was put in touch with Bal through mutual friends and it seemed like a great option after looking around Toronto for Indian bridal outfits. I will note that the outfit I received was gorgeous and fit perfectly. However, the process that I had to go through is something that I would not wish upon anyone and is the reason for the 2-stars. My intention is to provide a full, honest review - including the good and the bad.

I met with Bal end of June 2015. Our wedding was in July 2016 so I started the process early on with the intention to allow myself plenty of time and reduce stress. Bal assured me it only took her team 6-8 weeks to create the outfit and explained their process to me in detail. She was very pleasant and seemed genuine. After discussing various outfit options and finalizing one, Bal offered me a discounted rate of $1495. She wanted a 75% deposit, which I was skeptical of. Since we shared mutual friends though, I was more trusting of this than I should have been and sent the 75% deposit. This is when the issues started.

Bal assured me she would send me a purchasing order with measurement details and confirmation of payment. I have yet to receive this document. I informed Bal that I needed the outfit no later than March or April 2016 as I would be traveling and wanted enough time for alterations or adjustments before our wedding date. After receiving my deposit and taking my measurements, I did not hear from Bal at all. I e-mailed, messaged and started calling her in October 2015 for updates but she would not reply. I finally got a hold of her in December 2015 and she assured me that her team would start working on my outfit next and that she had offered me a discounted rate because I agreed to wait on having my outfit completed (not true. I have an e-mail noting that she offered me a discounted rate so that they could advertise my outfit through social media for their own advertising - something they didn't end up doing in the end to my knowledge). Bal explained that things had been very busy all the way until November; she had also started a new course and her father was unwell. All things I empathized with. Jan-March went by with no follow up or response from Bal - despite repeated attempts to call, e-mail, and message her. At this point, I was making back up plans for another bridal outfit as I did not expect her to deliver. This is not something any bride should be doing, especially when they start the process more than 1 year in advance.

I eventually resorted to involving my mutual friend to contact her and this was when she finally returned my call. She had multiple excuses (i.e. electricity where her workers were went out; the tailors were unable to take photos of my outfit...etc). I reminded her that I needed the outfit by April at the latest and again, she assured me that it would be complete by then. April came and went with no updates from her. All the while, no apologies - just excuses the odd time she did reply to a message. In May, she finally called and explained that one of her key staff members had gone back to school in October and ever since then, it was hard to manage the business in India. This person was expected to return back the following week and again, I was assured my outfit would be the "top priority" and I would have it in 2 weeks. Bal also offered a discount on what I had already paid given the delays. Again, a few weeks went by with no updates - with it being this close to the wedding, I was absolutely stressed out and had few options for a backup outfit. She finally e-mailed in June asking for revised measurements (even though I went to her home in July 2015 to get measured).

Bal had also promised to include a matching potli (purse) with my outfit. Of course, when the package arrived, this was not included and she had a number of other excuses why (as opposed to just apologizing for the hiccup). In the end, this outfit arrived early July - less than 2 weeks before our wedding date. While it was beautiful and fit perfectly, this ridiculous delay left me scrambling looking for shoes and jewelry as I could not purchase any of this until seeing the final product. The whole reason I started this process more than one year in advance, is so that I would not have to be stressed and scrambling close to our wedding date. Unfortunately, Bal tainted this process for me.

I never ended up receiving a discount. She went back to ignoring my messages and e-mails. However, she has not asked for the payment balance at least. I would have gone back to Almari if the process was different. Now, when people ask me for recommendations, I tell them about the quality product from Almari but the horrible process. If you decide to proceed with Bal - tell her you need your outfit in 2 months...and maybe you'll get it in 6-8. My opinion - spend the extra money and go elsewhere for peace of mind. Not worth the stress, esp. for brides.

I was put in touch with Bal through mutual friends and it seemed like a great option after looking around Toronto for Indian bridal outfits. I will note that the outfit I received was gorgeous and fit perfectly. However, the process that I had to go through is something that I would not wish upon anyone and is the reason for the 2-stars. My intention is to provide a full, honest review - including the good and the bad.

I met with Bal end of June 2015. Our wedding was in July 2016 so I started the process early on with the intention to allow myself plenty of time and reduce stress. Bal assured me it only took her team 6-8 weeks to create the outfit and explained their process to me in detail. She was very pleasant and seemed genuine. After discussing various outfit options and finalizing one, Bal offered me a discounted rate of $1495. She wanted a 75% deposit, which I was skeptical of. Since we shared mutual friends though, I was more trusting of this than I should have been and sent the 75% deposit. This is when the issues started.

Bal assured me she would send me a purchasing order with measurement details and confirmation of payment. I have yet to receive this document. I informed Bal that I needed the outfit no later than March or April 2016 as I would be traveling and wanted enough time for alterations or adjustments before our wedding date. After receiving my deposit and taking my measurements, I did not hear from Bal at all. I e-mailed, messaged and started calling her in October 2015 for updates but she would not reply. I finally got a hold of her in December 2015 and she assured me that her team would start working on my outfit next and that she had offered me a discounted rate because I agreed to wait on having my outfit completed (not true. I have an e-mail noting that she offered me a discounted rate so that they could advertise my outfit through social media for their own advertising - something they didn't end up doing in the end to my knowledge). Bal explained that things had been very busy all the way until November; she had also started a new course and her father was unwell. All things I empathized with. Jan-March went by with no follow up or response from Bal - despite repeated attempts to call, e-mail, and message her. At this point, I was making back up plans for another bridal outfit as I did not expect her to deliver. This is not something any bride should be doing, especially when they start the process more than 1 year in advance.

I eventually resorted to involving my mutual friend to contact her and this was when she finally returned my call. She had multiple excuses (i.e. electricity where her workers were went out; the tailors were unable to take photos of my outfit...etc). I reminded her that I needed the outfit by April at the latest and again, she assured me that it would be complete by then. April came and went with no updates from her. All the while, no apologies - just excuses the odd time she did reply to a message. In May, she finally called and explained that one of her key staff members had gone back to school in October and ever since then, it was hard to manage the business in India. This person was expected to return back the following week and again, I was assured my outfit would be the "top priority" and I would have it in 2 weeks. Bal also offered a discount on what I had already paid given the delays. Again, a few weeks went by with no updates - with it being this close to the wedding, I was absolutely stressed out and had few options for a backup outfit. She finally e-mailed in June asking for revised measurements (even though I went to her home in July 2015 to get measured).

Bal had also promised to include a matching potli (purse) with my outfit. Of course, when the package arrived, this was not included and she had a number of other excuses why (as opposed to just apologizing for the hiccup). In the end, this outfit arrived early July - less than 2 weeks before our wedding date. While it was beautiful and fit perfectly, this ridiculous delay left me scrambling looking for shoes and jewelry as I could not purchase any of this until seeing the final product. The whole reason I started this process more than one year in advance, is so that I would not have to be stressed and scrambling close to our wedding date. Unfortunately, Bal tainted this process for me.

I never ended up receiving a discount. She went back to ignoring my messages and e-mails. However, she has not asked for the payment balance at least. I would have gone back to Almari if the process was different. Now, when people ask me for recommendations, I tell them about the quality product from Almari but the horrible process. If you decide to proceed with Bal - tell her you need your outfit in 2 months...and maybe you'll get it in 6-8. My opinion - spend the extra money and go elsewhere for peace of mind. Not worth the stress, esp. for brides.

This is the worst service ever imaginable. I ordered a lengha 12 weeks prior to my event and Bal said they only needed 6-8 weeks because it was the copy of one they had already done. I paid her immediately as she said i had no choice. I messaged her 2 weeks later she said everything was on time and I would receive it early. I contacted her again 6 weeks later and she said there was an issue but everyone else was receiving their outfits..... I found this very weird. then i messaged her once again and she said she sent it out but i don't get a tracking number.... okay?

My event had already passed... which was my brothers wedding..... so i wanted a special outfit. i told her it was late and she replied " wear it to another event"

I am still in shock with this response.

It came late and 575 dollars later...... after she charged me extra....... for shipping.... something that was late..........
it sits in my closet because it is not needed as the wedding i needed it for had passed

thanks bal!

Hey did you end up getting your money back? I can't seem to get my money back and she keeps dodging my calls. Its been months now.
I've had similar experiences. Im thinking of looking into the business bureau regarding this issue.

This is a very long read but so worth it! Please take the time to read, comprehend and reflect. I hope to help people make better informed decisions when it comes to selecting this vendor.

I am not one to write such reviews but Almari Couture left me no choice. I spotted Almari on Instagram when I was looking for a custom design tailoring house. What seemed to be a reputable business, capable of delivering what it claimed to, actually turned out to be my worst nightmare! I was in need of having some custom-made outfits for my sister’s forthcoming wedding. The wedding was four months away so I knew I had plenty of time to place my orders. After two weeks and no response, I decided to follow-up. Bal, the owner, seemed keen in her email to land a new order and attached her custom ordering process, detailing how she supposedly involves the clients to get approvals throughout the construction process. We had some back and forth on email, trying to negotiate on price and timing - Bal claimed they needed an 8-10 week window versus the usual 6-8 week window. The timing was ok as she had me thinking that she would deliver without fail. Given that she claimed to be in business for some 12 years, I trusted her word.

When I decided upon moving forward with placing my three orders, I had to follow-up after a few days as I had not heard back. When Bal finally did respond to me, she asked if we could set-up a phone appointment for the next day. I agreed and gave her a time and my number but she didn’t call. A week had passed by this point - the alarm bells should have been ringing for me, but for some reason I pursued her. I guess I was excited at the prospect of having something special made for my sister’s wedding. Payment was taken electronically straight after that call. And so it began!

I was sent a measurement chart and a colour chart. I promptly sent back my measurements and colour selections. I even sent images and details of how I envisioned these outfits to be. Bal had stated that she would be preparing a "Purchase Agreement", that her “buyers” were swiftly going to be sourcing the fabrics, that she would share embroidery swatches, that she would nail down the construction design patterns, and that she would have sketches for me to look at by the weekend. Of course, these all turned out to be false promises, and I would learn this the hard way!

Every time I followed-up, Bal’s email would claim that the Purchase Agreements were almost ready, that my orders had been placed in the "production line" with the “team”, that they were making revisions to the sketches and that’s why I’d not seen any sketches as yet, and that the fabrics were being sourced and pics of these would be sent to me shortly. Nothing would be sent to me, and so I’d have no choice but to follow-up again! At this point, I was in too deep and there was no turning back. My instincts told me that Bal was being unfair and her actions (or lack of) spoke volumes! However, I was determined to see this through and kept hope!

The excuses were endless and came in all shapes and forms! At various moments in time along this terrible journey, Bal insisted that she had to take an emergency last-minute short trip (certainly no excuse to abandon your customers), that she was sure she had shared the so-called Purchase Agreements with me on the “G-drive” (a channel which she supposedly uses to share all documents with clients), that she was "on the line” getting more updates from her “team”, that further emails with details were coming yet they would never be sent, that she had a sudden medical procedure performed over the weekend (of which there was no prior mention), that there had been power outages in the design studio, that the time difference in India was proving problematic, as was the fact that it was Ramadan season and so she had no control over who was and wasn’t turning up to the workshop in India! From a customer perspective, the excuses are the worst things to hear - I would much rather that she was upfront and honest and tell me that they were running behind schedule and that nothing had yet been done about my orders. That would have been disappointing to hear but at least it would have been the truth!

The experience was further displeasing because I had no choice but to chase Bal on the phone, especially after she would refuse to call me upon request, even though it was warranted on her part! I spoke with her on four different occasions (not all calls were answered), only to hear more excuses and false promises. She even had the audacity to say that I should have a “ Plan B”! After putting all my eggs in one basket with her, NO I did not have a Plan B! I certainly raised my voice at her so that I could make myself “heard”. My tone was equally abrupt and I was very direct with her - I had no other choice! She had my money, I had a deadline, yet there were no signs of her meeting the deadline we had agreed upon. With each passing day, I feared the worst!

As time moved forward, of course it was inevitable that they were going to miss particular details that I had previously communicated. The confusion regarding colours and embroidery was plentiful! I had been more than clear upon the details! It was proving very difficult without seeing the work in-progress - of course, mainly because there was no work in-progress! Two out of the three outfits were to follow sample images, the other was a conceived concept to be agreed upon together. For that outfit, a silver lace overlay was suggested by Bal - it absolutely ate up the fabric beneath, which gave the outfit a completely dated look! I wanted a jewelled back. Bal made out that she understood what I envisioned. I even provided sample back images for inspiration and as a starting point - yet the end result was dismal! Bal claimed (at a very late stage) that her “buyer” was having difficulty sourcing the jewels. Much earlier, she had exclaimed that her “buyer” had been engaged in sourcing from the beginning! However, the truth is that my outfits were not started upon until very late in the game! I was on the losing end of this game and I knew that rectifying at this late stage was near impossible. The whole point of allowing for “time” is to go back and forth with options so the client can be satisfied. I was certainly a very dissatisfied customer!

Unfortunately, as I needed to fly from the USA to the UK for this wedding, I had no choice but to change my flight once it was certain that Bal was not going to meet our agreed upon deadline. To my further dismay, she missed the next deadline promised to me too! The one after that too! Not forgetting she was sure to mention that delivery also depended upon customs clearance and release times in my city! This had gone from bad to worse! At some moment in time, I needed to reach the UK. I wasn’t prepared to keep paying to change our flight (my husband and kids were a part of this extra cost). There was no other choice but to have her ship the items to the UK now. There was never an apologetic tone to her “civil” emails, yet excuses galore! In turn, my emails became more abrupt and direct - I was fighting to communicate in a crystal-clear manner and if that entailed for my tone to turn sour, then so be it! It was more than warranted!

When the outfits finally reached the UK destination, I had very low expectations. The images I had been shown depicted poor quality workmanship. In fact, the outfit with the jewelled back was an absolute monstrosity and I told Bal that I did not want it and for her to refund me. I was clear in that it should not be shipped to me. Of course, it was shipped to me and so I have attached an image here for you all you get an idea of what I was dealing with all along - a complete “off-brief” disaster! The mint had been dyed way too deep, the lace completely ruined the gown, the jewelled back was a joke (cheap and sparse to be exact), the waist-belt carried misaligned stonework and there was no tie-in to the rest of the outfit (another suggestion from Bal) - the image speaks volumes!! The original Great Gatsby theme idea had vanished and been replaced by an “old-fashioned, Little House on the Prairie, Little Bo Peep on her way to a Barn dance” feel! Workmanship on the embroidery was of a very poor standard - this is true of all three outfits as you could see white threads within. Bra pads were off-point - proportion, as ladies would all agree, needs to be on-point! The other two outfits also did not turn out to my liking and fittings were off. Needless to say, I did not wear the three outfits but was forced to buy three NEW outfits to replace these! That means I had to spend twice, not forgetting the extra charges incurred in changing our flight!

To say I am not happy would be an understatement! After the poor level of service, untimely responses, multiple deadlines missed, no returned calls, not being able to match jewelry, having to change our flight for no reason, and ultimately receiving three disappointing outfits, I would conclude that I kept my end of the deal - always very responsive - but Bal did not keep hers! She never did me the courtesy of keeping the lines of communication open. I wish I could turn back the clock and pick a different custom design tailoring house. The reality is, I picked hers. There were no signs of any after-sales service - she did not even do me the courtesy of following-up upon delivery of the orders. I sent an email conveying my disappointment and requesting a partial refund. She chose to ignore me. I followed-up upon returning to the USA more than a month later - she still ignored me. This review is way over-due but important to share nonetheless. I hope that what happened to me, NEVER happens to anyone! There are many ways I could have worded this review and so many more details I could have shared. The final message would be the same. Ladies, think twice before entrusting Almari Couture with your custom orders - the tailoring is poorly outsourced and their service is nothing short of disappointing!

My sister and I both ordered matching floral print lehenga outfits to wear to our brothers wedding in November, we just received them and love them both. We saw these outfits posted on this company's Instagram account and they looked nice enough and other customers seemed very happy with their orders of the same design, so we ordered them too. We didn't get the original prints as they ran out but we got to choose our own prints which was nice. We didn't know they would be such good quality (they look very expensive) and great fitting too (this helps, there aren't too many good tailors in our area) if we can't go to India directly as we usually like to the. we will just order from these guys again

I can't seem to get my money back :(
she dodges my calls and won't refund my money
can anyone please help!! Made the mistake in trusting this vendor, horrible experience.

Should I just go to the Better Business Bureau?? thoughts pleaseee

THIS COMPANY DEFINETELY WINS THE AWARD FOR MOST STRESSFUL WEDDING VENDOR - ALMARI COUTURE

After much review and investigation, I finally decided to have my outfits for my sister's wedding custom created by Almari Couture. I had seen many of their real life clients wearing their outfits on their social media and really like some of their pieces. I found they were quick to get back to me with detailed info and understood my vision and style very well. I ordered my outfits well in advance of the dates I required them by(to be on the safe side), and couldn't be happier with the final outcome. They sent me pictures of my fabrics and embroidery while my outfits were being made and I got to see the completed products before they were shipped to me. Both outfits fit well, better than expected considering I sent my measurements myself via email (I decided to take in one of the blouses for a slightly tighter fit, no biggie). Overall both outfits look stunning in person, and look to be of a very high quality....excited to wear them both! I recommend this service to anyone who is looking for something hard to find and custom made to their sizing. I love that I didn't have to go door to door to look for the perfect outfit, they created it for me and delivered it to my doorstep!

I contacted Bal in late July 2015 to prepare an outfit for me in late August 2015. I was worried the timeframe was too tight but she assured me she didn't take any orders she couldn't deliver on. She took my money (which i never received a receipt for despite asking several times) and told me nothing would be designed without me seeing a sketch of the outfit, then I would approve all the fabrics to be used and I would see final pictures of everything before the outfit was shipped out. NONE of this happened. She showed me one fabric swatch and then used a cheaper one in the outfit she created. I had to constantly call and email to stay on top of what was happening and she would occasionally respond without answering any of my questions and reassured me we were on target for delivery by the date I needed it by. I became very worried throughout the process as I hadn't seen any images of the final product. I didn't see any pictures of the outfit until it was being shipped to me. It looked NOTHING like the picture I sent her to base the design on. The outfit I wanted was gold and she sent me an outfit that was pink. It was HIDEOUS and I was outraged at the amount of money they had charged me for something I would never wear. There was no design element required to the outfit as I had sent her a picture of what I wanted and she couldn't even deliver that. When i called her to express my concerns she reassured me I would love it when i received it. I asked her if she was so proud of the outfit then why couldn't she sell it in her store. She didn't have a response to that so clearly knew the outfit would never sell. She then made every excuse when I asked her why the fabrics and embroidery I chose were changed.
Bal then claimed the outfit was shipped out on the day we agreed I would receive it by . It was delayed two days due to a power outage at the plant in India she gets to stitch the outfits. She didn't provide me with a tracking number despite me asking several times. Two days would go by before i received a tracking number which showed the package was sent out 3 DAYS AFTER SHE CLAIMED IT WAS SHIPPED. Once I received the tracking number I knew I would be at my cousin's wedding in another province when the package was delivered to my house. Bal assured me the courier company tracking information was wrong and that I would receive it before then. When I contacted the courier company they confirmed their information was right and that Bal was wrong. Bal also insisted I could have the package re-routed. Instead of her doing this to ensure I received the outfit in time she instructed me to do it. The courier company said it was too late to do this and that Bal was incorrect. I then tried contacting her several times by phone and email with no success. She later emailed saying her phone had broken but made no attempt to call me back. However, I did notice that at the same time she had time to post to her Facebook page. I never received this outfit in time for my cousin's wedding and on top of that I was stressed during the whole time I was there dealing with Bal's lack of customer service and competence. Please think twice before you decide to hand your money over to her and make sure you get a receipt! I will never work with this individual ever again. Please save your money and work with someone who knows what they are doing.

Applepie1, I complete agree with you 110%. This woman has absolutely no business etiquette whatsoever! I to, went through the exact same rigmarole as you did. I sent herl a picture of a design which I wanted replicated and after delivery and her confidence in how perfect this dress looks, I was completely disgusted with every detail on this dress. She basically told me that it was fine and her tailor would adjust everything, but at my expense and for her mistakes. This girl is not a designer or a seamstress - she is a middleman who delegates tasks to her team in India!! Her response time is also beyond my comprehension and I advise all future brides to steer clear of this company. WORST SERVICE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First of all... I gave Almari a 1/5 but if I was able to give a negative number out of 5 I sure would. Bal has the worst customer service I have ever seen.
She told me to make sure I place my order 6-8 weeks prior to the date needed. I placed the order 10 weeks before (of a product they have already created) and I still didn't receive it before my event.
I called Bal two months before my event asking if she had begun production, she told me yes and that I will receive it very soon.
Eventually a month later I called again because I was suppose to receive my outfit, but after serveral ignored phone calls and emails, I finally get a hold of Bal and she tells me they haven't begun because of som stupid reason.
I remained patient but over the weeks I continued to get all these different excuses that meant nothing to me.
It was impossible to get a hold of her and when I did she continued to repeat herself as if she needed to cover up her lies.
She blamed everyone but herself.
I could go on but let's get to the important part... I DID NOT RECEIVE MY OUTFIT BY MY EVENT DATE.
I provided Bal with the money 10 weeks prior and I did not receive my outfit.
I called her clearly pissed off and her reply "wear it to your other events"

Thanks for taking my money and ruining my sisters wedding.

I got my wedding outfits from Almari. BIGGEST mistake ever! I have never written a bad review before but because this was a complete nightmare of an experience I feel that I have to write this to warn future brides. They ruined all my outfits and they didn't even finish most of them on time leaving me to scramble to get back- up outfits a week before my wedding! They promised that my outfits would be complete 5 months before my big day but I did not get my wedding and reception outfit until 1 week before my wedding, which left little time to alter or change anything. On top of everything else they didn't make any of my pre- wedding outfits on time. Brides please beware as they are all nice and confident in the beginning telling you that you will be involved in the process and that they will update you with sketches and pictures every step of the way however I had to harass them so many times before they finally sent me any pictures of my outfits which they sent at the very last stages so it defeated the purpose of me being involved in order to change anything. These girls think they are designers but they are just middlemen who have very poor communication with the REAL designers in India. Such poor communication that they couldn't even get one outfit right! These girls have no real confidence in their work and have difficulty dealing with clients. They are very unprofessional and do not take accountability for any of their mistakes. So, brides please beware as these are not the people you want to deal with for the most important day of your life!

I absolutely loved my sari I bought from Almari. The girls were so helpful they also helped me find some amazing earrings that complimented my outfit. I will definitely be back next time I have an event to attend. Thanks again and next time I will shop early. Love your satisfied, happy, ecstatic customer.

The outfit was a huge hit, my cousins loved it so much they will definitely be getting their custom outfits from almari for their brothers wedding. I should be receiving my professional pictures soon once I have them I will forward them to you. Thank you for an amazing outfit, it is my favourite piece. Already thinking of what my next piece will look like, will definitely be working with Almari again.