Handwork rewards patience. Store embroidered garments flat or on padded hangers, away from direct sunlight, and let them breathe between wears rather than sealing them in plastic.

Always dry clean handwork and zari; never machine wash. A muslin cloth pressed between the iron and the embroidery protects the threads from direct heat.

Treated gently, a well-made piece is not seasonal. It becomes an heirloom — something you reach for again and again, and eventually pass on.