( 08 ) · silhouette

Wholesale butterfly and batwing abayas

The wing-sleeve cut, made in the UAE. One continuous panel from wrist to hem that opens when the arms lift, which is why it carries a shop's photography and why it sells for Eid. 20 pieces in any mix.

In short

A butterfly abaya has sleeves cut as one continuous panel from wrist to hem, which opens into a wing shape when the arms move. "Batwing" describes the same construction and the two names are used for the same garment. The Arabic name for this silhouette is farasha, which means butterfly.

Sleeve
One panel, wrist to hem
Also called
Batwing, cape, farasha
Minimum
20 pieces, any mix
Lead time
12–18 days, made to order
Ask for the line sheetEmail us

Butterfly cuts are made to order

Send the fabric, the sleeve width you want and your colours. We will pattern it and quote it. Nothing in this cut is held as ready stock today.

Prices and terms reviewed September 2026

Ask for a butterfly quoteSee everything in stock
Illustrative: butterfly abaya wholesale — a black abaya with its wide wing sleeve held open. Licensed stock photograph, not our own product.
Illustrative: a maroon wide-sleeve abaya opened out like a wing. Licensed stock photograph, not our own product.
Illustrative: an orange abaya with full, dropped balloon sleeves. Licensed stock photograph, not our own product.

Why buyers pick butterfly and batwing

  1. It earns its place on your feed

    A wing sleeve moves, and movement is what stops a scroll. This is the piece that sells the rest of the rail rather than the piece that carries your volume.

  2. Forgiving through the body

    All the shape is in the sleeve, so the body can run generous. Fit returns are lower here than on anything tailored.

  3. An occasion price without a bespoke order

    Customers accept a higher shelf price for drama. The cut does the work that embroidery would otherwise have to pay for.

Butterfly, batwing, cape or kimono

Four words used loosely across the trade. This is how we use them, and we use them the same way on every page.

NameWhat defines itSells for
ButterflyOne panel from wrist to hem, opening like a wingEid, weddings, photography
BatwingThe same construction, different wordThe same thing
FarashaThe Arabic name for the same silhouetteRamadan and Eid buying
CapeA separate draped layer over a plain sleeveA softer, more formal look
KimonoWide sleeve but a relaxed, everyday bodyDaily wear

If you are comparing quotes, ask for the flat measurement across the sleeve at its widest. That single number tells you more than any of these words.

What a butterfly abaya is

Instead of a sleeve set into an armhole, the fabric runs in one continuous panel from the wrist down to the hem. Arms down, it reads as a full, flowing abaya. Arms up, it opens into a wing.

Batwing is the same thing under a different name. Farasha is the same thing again in Arabic, and we have a page for that too because buyers search both.

Why it uses so much cloth

That continuous panel needs width, and wide cloth costs more per metre than narrow. It is the main reason a butterfly cut prices above a straight abaya in the same fabric.

It also affects freight. The pieces are bulkier folded, so a carton holds fewer of them than it would of everyday styles.

What it is not

It is not a cape abaya. A cape adds a separate layer over an ordinary sleeve, which is a softer look and a different pattern.

It is not a kimono either. A kimono has a wide sleeve but a relaxed everyday body, and it sells to a completely different occasion.

Buying butterfly abayas for your shop

This is a shallow, high-impact buy. Two or three styles is usually right, and depth belongs in your everyday cuts.

Fabric decides whether the wing works

The sleeve has to fall, not stand. Nida gives a soft everyday wing; crepe holds a more sculptural line; satin reads richest under artificial light and is what most occasion pieces use.

Too stiff and the wing looks like a costume. Too thin and it collapses into the body and disappears.

Warn your customer about the sleeve

A wide sleeve catches on handles, cooking and car doors. Customers who buy it for daily wear find this out and blame the garment.

Say it is an occasion cut on your product page. Honest expectations are the cheapest returns policy there is.

Questions buyers ask

What is a butterfly abaya?

An abaya where the sleeve is one continuous panel of fabric running from the wrist to the hem, so it opens into a wing shape when the arms lift.

What is the difference between a butterfly and a batwing abaya?

Nothing in construction. They are two names for the same sleeve, and different sellers favour different words.

Is a farasha the same as a butterfly abaya?

Yes. Farasha is Arabic for butterfly and names the same silhouette. We keep a separate farasha page because buyers search both words.

What is the difference between a butterfly abaya and a kimono abaya?

A butterfly is about the sleeve: one panel from wrist to hem, built for occasions. A kimono is about the body: a relaxed line for everyday wear.

Is a cape abaya the same as a butterfly abaya?

No. A cape abaya adds a separate draped layer over an ordinary sleeve. A butterfly has no separate layer; the sleeve and the body are cut as one.

What fabric are butterfly abayas made from?

Nida for a lighter everyday wing, crepe where the shape needs to hold, and satin for occasion pieces. The cloth decides whether the sleeve falls properly.

Do butterfly abayas need an inner dress?

It depends on the cut. Closed butterfly styles are worn alone; open ones are usually sold as a set with a matching inner dress.

What is the minimum order for butterfly and batwing abayas?

20 pieces across the whole order, any mix of styles, colours and sizes, with a AED 2,000 minimum order value.

How much does a wholesale butterfly abaya cost?

Our published floor is AED 90 a piece at the entry fabric and a simple stitch. A butterfly cut sits above that because it uses more cloth, and we quote it per style.

Why does a butterfly abaya cost more than a straight cut?

The continuous wrist-to-hem panel needs wider fabric and more of it. The sewing is not much harder; the cloth is the cost.

Are butterfly abayas in stock?

Not currently. Every butterfly order is made to order in 12 to 18 working days. Tell us your date and we will confirm whether it fits.

What sizes do butterfly abayas come in?

The same length sizing as the rest of the range, measured shoulder to hem: 52 to 60 as standard, with 62 to 66 made to order.

Can I mix butterfly styles with other cuts in one order?

Yes. Everything counts toward the same 20 piece minimum.

Can I get butterfly abayas with my own label?

Yes, on any style, with your woven or printed labels, care tags and packaging.

What occasions do butterfly abayas sell for?

Eid, weddings and formal events above all. A lighter nida version works as an elevated everyday piece, but the cut is bought for occasions.

Is a wide sleeve practical for daily wear?

Less so. It catches on door handles and gets in the way when cooking. Sell it as an occasion piece and your customers will be happier with it.

Does the wide sleeve cost more to ship?

A little. The pieces are bulkier folded, so fewer fit in a carton and freight is charged on the space they take.

Buyers also look at

Illustrative: farasha abaya wholesale — a blush, wide-sleeve occasion abaya with gold embroidery. Licensed stock photograph, not our own product.
( 09 )

Farasha

For Ramadan and occasions

Illustrative: luxury abaya wholesale — a black embellished abaya worn with pearls. Licensed stock photograph, not our own product.
( 11 )

Luxury

Lined and hand-finished

Close-up of black crepe showing its fine pebbled surface texture.
( 04 )

Crepe

Travels without creasing

The rest of the range

Ask for the butterfly and batwing line sheet

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