“The caftan trend first gained momentum through celebrities, influencers, and actresses who showcased caftans at public events and on television programmes aired during Ramadan. Soon, the wider public embraced the style, purchasing caftans to wear during the holy month and giving designers and manufacturers a reason to make it a staple in their collections,” says fashion designer Iman Mahdi of this year’s must-have outfit for Ramadan.
“Caftan designs used to be more fitted with a relatively slim silhouette, closely resembling evening gowns. This style was criticised for not aligning with the spirit of Ramadan, and so designers then shifted towards looser silhouettes. The caftan began to resemble an open abaya adorned with various decorative motifs derived from Islamic patterns, becoming an alternative,” she added.
“Some caftan designs offered a more affordable substitute for high-priced abayas. Others replaced them, meaning that many young women prefer to wear caftans instead.”
According to Mahdi, caftans come in a variety of styles, including simple ones with minimal embellishments suitable for daytime outings during Ramadan. These designs are particularly popular among young women seeking contemporary styles to wear at university during the day and who often opt for short and modern caftans. Others prefer long and heavily embellished designs to wear over dresses for Sohour gatherings or for attending prayers at the mosque during Ramadan.
“There are also popular models and silhouettes that shoppers look for every year. Nevertheless, designers tend to produce a wide range of designs and colours, as both light and dark shades perform well. Pieces made with high-quality fabrics and precise tailoring receive greater approval from buyers,” Mahdi noted.
“Over time, the caftan has contributed to creating a new sales season that begins before Ramadan, with the month of Shaaban becoming an active period for sales. Preparations for the season typically start two to three months before Ramadan, beginning with design development and fabric sourcing, followed by production.”
This year, selecting the right fabrics has become the most important stage in producing caftans, especially as Ramadan coincides with winter for the first time in many years after a long period dominated by summer fabrics, she added.
As a result, designers have turned to winter-appropriate materials such as velvet, which dominates this season’s collections.
Women’s purchasing behaviour during Ramadan varies, Mahdi said, with some preferring to buy multiple caftans to avoid wearing the same piece on different occasions. Others opt for one or two caftans per season, as long as they are of high quality and feature distinctive fabrics and designs. Most women purchase one caftan specifically for Ramadan and another dedicated to prayer or for outings during the Eid holidays that follow.
“In the early stages of the caftan revival, the available designs were handmade and therefore high-priced. As the garment’s popularity increased, manufacturers began producing caftans using local fabrics, machine embroidery, or non-embroidered designs, gradually reducing prices,” Mahdi said.
“Caftan prices vary depending on fabric and embroidery. Some pieces exceed LE3,000 to 4,000, while mid-range options are priced between LE700 and 1,300, and lower-quality versions average around LE350. Higher prices generally reflect better fabric quality, with hand-embroidered designs ranking among the most expensive.”
According to Hanaa Al-Sherbini, an interior and handicrafts designer, hand-embroidered caftans are unique, as no two handmade pieces are identical.
“Handicrafts in Egypt are produced by highly skilled artisans with unmatched expertise, and for this reason I chose to work with women from the Siwa Oasis on caftan embroidery. Women there practise hand embroidery from a young age, and the designs they use reflect their environment and carry various stories and meanings. Each piece also takes several months to complete, which is why handmade items can be expensive,” Al-Sherbini said.
“In my designs, I use symbols inspired by Siwa’s environment, where palm trees are a central element of daily life. These symbols are presented in an abstract rather than literal form, however, and the colours I use also mirror the environment, reflecting the stages of date ripening, including green, yellow, orange, red, and black,” she added.
For Al-Sherbini, it is Egypt’s rich heritage that serves as the inspiration for modern designs that reflect the country’s vibrant spirit, something that she says is especially important given the difference between Gulf-style abayas and Egyptian tastes, which have made the local market more receptive to homegrown caftans.
“The loose silhouette of the caftan appeals to many Egyptian women, who are used to wearing flowing garments and traditional abayas in different governorates. At the same time, the high cost of imported caftans created an opportunity for local alternatives, helping the market for Egyptian brands to thrive,” she said.
Brand owner Sara Shabana has sought to present a distinctive approach in a crowded market. “I began designing and producing caftans recently, and this is my first Ramadan in the industry. Competition during the Ramadan season is intense, but many caftans available in the market are visually appealing but impractical, something that motivated me to focus on combining elegance with functionality,” she said.
“I emphasise comfort, ease of wear, and suitability for daily activities in my designs. For example, many caftans purchased for hosting guests during Ramadan feature excessively wide and long sleeves, which hinder movement and tasks such as serving food. I therefore create designs with appropriate lengths and sleeves that are not exaggerated, allowing for better mobility.”
When choosing a caftan, attention should be given to fabric quality, fit, and suitability for different body types, Shabana said, adding that many of those available in the market may not accommodate different silhouettes. Yet, most women still purchase caftans based solely on appearance to follow fashion trends, even when they are not practical.
“Ramadan looks can also be diversified by creatively styling a caftan. Sleeveless caftans offer greater flexibility when paired with everyday clothing, for example. Short caftans can be styled with skirts or trousers, while longer ones can be worn over dresses or trousers. Sleeveless caftans can also be layered over shirts for veiled women,” she said.
She added that caftans worn during Ramadan can take on a more modern appearance through the use of materials such as leather or velvet. “This gives the pieces a contemporary look that sets them apart, rather than relying solely on traditional heritage forms,” she said.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 26 February, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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