( 02 ) · silhouette

Wholesale open abayas

Front-open and cardigan cuts, made in the UAE to our specifications. This is the shape that sells hardest in the UK, the US and Europe, and the safest first order a new buyer can place. From 20 pieces across any mix of styles, colours and sizes.

In short

An open abaya has no front closure. It falls open at the front and is worn over an outfit, like a long cardigan or a light coat, usually with a matching inner dress underneath. It is the best-selling abaya silhouette in the UK, the US and Europe.

Fabrics
Satin, nida, crepe
Sizes
52–60 stocked, 62–66 made to order
Minimum
20 pieces, any mix
Ready stock
Ships in 3–5 days
Ask for the line sheetEmail us

Open abaya styles

5 styles · 1 design · 5 colourways

A blush satin open abaya photographed in our studio, worn over its matching inner dress.
Blush pink satin open abaya — front viewNew arrival

Blush PinkReady stock

Lunar Satin Open Abaya Set

from AED 189typical retail AED 420

5 colourways · sizes 52–60 · 3–5 days

Open abaya, front view, worn over the matching inner dress.
Close detail of the satin drape at the front opening.
Close detail of the wide sleeve and cuff.
Open abaya, back view, showing the fall from the shoulder.

Why buyers pick open abaya

  1. Sells in cold and hot markets

    Worn over clothes like a light coat in the UK, or over a slip dress in the Gulf. One shape, two seasons, no seasonal dead stock.

  2. Easier to size than a closed cut

    An open front forgives the chest and the hip. Fewer pieces come back for fit, which matters when you are paying return shipping.

  3. The safest first order

    If you do not yet know what your customers want, this is the shape most likely to sell through. Start here, then go deeper on what moves.

Which fabric for which customer

The same open cut sells very differently depending on the cloth. This is how we would match them.

FabricFeels likeBest forWatch out for
SatinSmooth, soft shine, very fluidEid, evening, setsShows snags and pulls
NidaSoft, matte, lightEveryday, work, the volume of your rangeToo light a weight can go sheer in sun
CrepeFine grain, holds its shapeTravel, office, a base for embroideryMore delicate to wash than nida

Every product page carries that style’s own fabric weight and composition. We do not publish one weight for a whole category, because the same trade name can mean different cloth from different mills.

What an open abaya is

An open abaya has no front closure. It falls open and is worn over an outfit, the way you would wear a long cardigan or a light coat.

Most are sold with an inner dress in the same fabric, because the open front needs something underneath. When a buyer says "abaya set", this is usually what they mean.

Open, kimono and cardigan cuts

These three names get used interchangeably across the trade, and they are not the same cut. If you searched for a kimono abaya and landed here, the difference is the sleeve and the body, not the opening.

Open abaya

Straight fronts that hang down either side, with a set-in sleeve. The cleanest shape and the easiest to sell to a customer who has never bought one.

Kimono abaya

Wide sleeves cut in one piece with the body, and a looser overall line. More relaxed and more casual. We make these too, on their own page.

Cardigan abaya

A slimmer open cut, usually with a tie belt or a single fastening at the waist. This is the one that sells as workwear.

Open abaya or closed abaya

An open abaya goes on over an outfit like a coat. A closed abaya goes over the head and is the whole outfit.

Open cuts forgive fit, layer well and suit markets where women dress in their own clothes underneath. Closed cuts are faster to put on and still lead in much of the Gulf and West Africa. Most shops end up carrying both, weighted to what their customers actually wear.

How to buy open abayas for your shop

Start with black and one neutral in an everyday fabric, and mix your sizes. Our minimum is 20 pieces across the whole order with a AED 2,000 minimum value, so you can take several styles without buying depth in any of them.

Sell the set, not just the abaya

An open abaya sold on its own leaves your customer to find something to wear under it. Sold with its inner dress, it is a finished outfit and a bigger basket.

It also cuts returns. A customer who cannot style it sends it back.

Sizing: buy by height, not by dress size

Abaya sizes are a length in inches, measured from the shoulder to the hem. A 56 is 56 inches long. You choose it from your customer’s height, not from her usual dress size.

  • 52 suits roughly 155–160 cm
  • 54 suits roughly 160–165 cm
  • 56 suits roughly 165–170 cm
  • 58 suits roughly 170–175 cm
  • 60 suits roughly 175–180 cm
  • Add a size if your customer wears heels, and go up rather than down when she falls between two

Publish the numbers on your own product pages

Put the garment length and the model’s height on every listing. Fit surprises cause most abaya returns, and this is the cheapest way to cut them. We give you the measurements for every style you buy.

A sensible first order

Four or five styles at small depth beats two styles bought deep. You are buying information about your customer as much as stock.

Black carries the volume nearly everywhere. Use a second colour as a test, not as a bet.

Questions buyers ask

What is the minimum order for open abayas?

20 pieces across the whole order, in any mix of styles, colours and sizes, with a AED 2,000 minimum order value. Whichever you reach last is the one that applies.

Do your open abayas come with the inner dress?

Most do, as a set in the same fabric. Where a style is sold as the abaya alone, its product page says so.

What is the difference between an open abaya, a kimono abaya and a cardigan abaya?

All three are front-open and worn like a coat. Open is the straightest cut. Kimono has wider sleeves cut in one with the body and a looser line. Cardigan is slimmer, usually with a tie or a single fastening at the waist.

Is an open abaya the same as a duster abaya?

Often, but not always. Some sellers use "duster" for any open cut, others use it for a separate outer layer sold with its own dress. Ask a supplier which one they mean before you order.

How is an open abaya different from a closed abaya for my customers?

Open is worn over an outfit, like a coat. Closed goes over the head and is the whole outfit. Open forgives fit better; closed is quicker to put on.

Can I get open abayas in plus sizes?

Yes. Sizes 52–60 are stocked. 62–66 are made to order from a plus pattern, with the armhole, shoulder and sleeve re-drafted rather than a standard size scaled up.

Do I choose the size by my customer’s dress size or her height?

Her height. An abaya size is a length measurement from shoulder to hem, not a body size.

What sizes do wholesale open abayas run?

From 52 inches, which suits roughly 155–160 cm, up to 60 inches for roughly 175–180 cm. We make 62–66 to order for taller and plus-size customers.

Are open abayas see-through?

That depends on the fabric weight, not the cut. We put the weight and composition on each product page rather than making a blanket quality claim, so you can judge before you buy.

What fabric should I pick for a hot-climate market?

Nida or crepe. Both drape without clinging and wear better in heat than a heavy satin.

How fast can you ship?

Ready stock leaves here in 3 to 5 working days. Made to order takes 12 to 18. Courier transit is on top, usually 5 to 10 days.

Can I mix open abaya styles and colours in one order?

Yes. Every style, colour and size counts toward the same 20 piece minimum.

Can I put my own label in them?

Yes, on any style. Woven, printed or heat-seal labels, your care tags and your packaging. The private label page explains the label minimums, which are separate from the garment minimum.

Which colours sell best?

Black first, by a wide margin, then beige, sand and soft neutrals. Treat a brighter colour as a test of your own customers rather than a bet.

What is the difference between an open abaya and a jilbab?

An abaya is a full-length outer garment. A jilbab is similar but usually comes with an attached or matching headpiece.

Which markets buy the most open abayas?

The UK and Europe lead on open-front layering. The US and Canada buy them light for summer. Gulf buyers increasingly stock open cuts alongside closed ones.

Do open abayas need a belt?

No. Plenty of buyers style them with a self-fabric or contrast belt, but that is a styling choice rather than part of the construction.

What does a realistic first order look like?

Around 20 to 40 pieces across four or five styles, mostly black, with mixed sizes and one colour as a test. That teaches you your customer without tying up cash in depth.

Can I order a sample before committing?

Yes. Sample orders have no piece minimum, just a AED 2,000 minimum value. It is real stock you keep and can sell.

What are your payment terms?

50–60% deposit before work starts, and the balance on dispatch, against photos of your packed cartons.

Buyers also look at

Close-up of matte black nida fabric showing its fine weave and soft folds.
( 01 )

Nida

The everyday fabric

The rest of the range

Ask for the open abaya line sheet

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