Commissioning vestments is different from ordinary online shopping. Because every set is fully embroidered and made to order to a specific clergyman and a specific design, there's a short collaboration between your parish and our atelier before anything ships. Clergy ordering for the first time often ask the same practical questions: how long does it take, what exactly do I choose, and when do I need to order so a set arrives before Pascha or an ordination? This article answers all three.
The Process, Step by Step
- Choose the piece or set. Browse the priest vestments, deacon, bishop, or textile categories such as altar covers and chalice covers. Each listing shows the brocade, the embroidery design, and the available options.
- Confirm the cut and tradition. Greek cut or Slavic cut — this is set by your jurisdiction. If you're unsure, send a photo of an existing set and we'll match it. (See our article on Greek vs Russian vestments.)
- Send measurements. Use our measurements form. Accurate numbers are what make a made-to-measure set fit the first time — our sizing guide covers exactly what to take.
- Approve the details. We confirm the brocade colour, the embroidery design, any icon panels, trim, and lining before production begins.
- Production. The set is cut, embroidered, and sewn in our atelier in the USA.
- Quality check and shipping. Every finished piece is inspected before it ships, with worldwide delivery and tracking.
Typical Lead Times
A typical set takes about 4–8 weeks from the day measurements and design are confirmed, depending on the complexity of the embroidery and how busy the workshop is. A simple set is at the shorter end; a set with detailed icon panels sits at the longer end. Add shipping time on top — a few days within the US, up to about two weeks internationally.
Two things shorten or lengthen this in practice:
- Season. The weeks before Pascha and before major feasts are the busiest of the year. Order early in those windows.
- Design complexity. Heavily embroidered sets with multiple icon panels take longer than a single-colour set with a cross.
When to Order for a Feast
| Occasion | Order by |
|---|---|
| Pascha (white set) | January |
| Great Lent (purple set) | Late autumn |
| Patronal feast | At least 3 months ahead |
| Ordination | 3–4 months ahead |
When in doubt, order earlier. A set that arrives a month early can be blessed and set aside; a set ordered too late means serving the feast in something that doesn't fit the day.
What You'll Choose
- Brocade colour — the liturgical colour for the set. Our reference on liturgical colours explains which colour serves which season.
- Embroidery design — the cross, icon panels, and orphreys. Every piece we make is fully embroidered; for the difference between fully embroidered and other approaches, see embroidery methods compared.
- Cut — Greek or Slavic, by jurisdiction.
- Coordinating textiles — many parishes order a matching altar cover and chalice cover set in the same brocade at the same time, so the sanctuary reads as one composition.
Coordinating a Whole Set
If you're outfitting a parish rather than ordering a single piece, it pays to plan the brocade once and reuse it. Ordering vestments, altar covers, and chalice covers together — in the same cloth — costs less per piece and looks unified. Our guide on choosing vestments for your parish lays out a multi-year plan; this article is the "how the order itself works" companion to it.
Ready to Begin?
Start by browsing the collection, then send your measurements or contact us with any question about design, fabric, or timing. We read every message ourselves and are glad to help you plan an order around your parish calendar — well before the feast, not the week of.