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Gabrieli Tallit Buyer's Guide

How long does it take to receive the tallit set, including shipping time?
Gabrieli tallit sets are woven by hand. The production process typically takes 3-5 weeks, depending on the availability of the looms. For details on shipping, please refer to our Shipping Info page.

We have a bar mitzvah (or wedding) coming up in just a few weeks. Is there any way to expedite the process?
Yes, in some cases. Contact us with specifics (target date, name of tallit, size) and we'll see what we can do.

I appreciate having a range of tzitzit options to choose from, but many of the options shown are unfamiliar to me.
The Vilna Gaon, Sefer HaChinuch and Raavad options are only for tzitzit with techelet (blue string). For a comprehensive guide for both white and techelet tzitzit, refer to our Tzitzit Wizard.

What is the difference between the wool and cotton options?
The wool uses a thicker yarn, which of course results in a thicker tallit with an earthy look. The cotton is a a tighter weave, which produces a smoother fabric with finer detail. They actually look quite similar, although the yarn colors can differ somewhat.

Okay, but isn't the wool tallit going to be hot and itchy?
As a general rule, the wool weave holds up better over time, and the cotton is more prone to getting creases that are a bit hard to get out. From a halachic standpoint, according to some opinions wool is preferable to cotton. (To be precise, the 100% wool option is preferable to cotton, but cotton would definitely be better than wool/acrylic.) The Gabrieli weaving studio uses thick yarns for both their wool and cotton products. Surprisingly, if you lay a wool Gabrieli tallit alongside a cotton one, the weave is strikingly similar. (On the other hand, the silk looks quite different.) Wool worn loosely doesn't necessarily make you hot (see here and here). However, for someone with a wool allergy or sensitivity, cotton may be a good option.

What is the difference between the wool/acrylic and 100% wool?
Wool/acrylic is made by weaving wool yarn on an acrylic warp. The 100% wool option is a wool warp and wool woof. The final products are almost identical. Almost all Gabrieli wool tallits sold are actually wool/acrylic. We offer wool/wool because it is clearly preferable from a halachic standpoint.

I'm looking at one of the silk tallits. What is the material like up close?
Gabrieli uses a thick silk yarn that differs distinctly from thin silks. The silk tallit comes out slightly thinner than the wool and cotton, with finer detail and more sheen.

We'd like to personalize the tallit. What options are available?
The simplest option is personalize the atara (neckband). You'll see that option right on the product page. Another possibility would be to add letter embroidery to the bag, which is just $1 per letter, in Hebrew or English. If you order the 22" x 80" size or the 22" x 70" size, note that the bag only has enough room for 6-8 letters.

I would like to customize a tallit. Can this be arranged?
Yes, of course. See if any of the tallits shown have a pattern close to what you have in mind and then describe to us how you would like the colors modified. If possible, create a mock-up using a graphics program. We charge a $25 fee for customization.

If the Gabrielli talit is woven by hand, can the size be customized?
Certainly. Standard Gabrieli tallit sizes are 20" x 80", 30" x 80", 40" x 80, 50" x 80" and 60" x 80". We can have a tallit made in any of those sizes, but we offer slightly modified versions of those sizes on our web store, which are closer to standard tallit sizes. We can also create in-between sizes, but we cannot provide in-between prices! 

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