Salam Beautiful! Most of our designs are low stock. If they are sold out, they will not be restocked. If you have always been on the edge of grabbing one or two this is your very last chance!!
The abaya isn't one garment. It's a family of garments, each shaped by its region. Here's how they differ — and where Kabayare's catalog lives.
Kabayare specialty
Somali — Dirac + Baati
The dirac is Somali ceremonial dress — flowing, often sheer with a petticoat slip, worn for weddings and gatherings. The baati is everyday Somali dress — light cotton, relaxed, house-appropriate. We stock one of the largest Somali dirac and baati collections online.
The Khaleeji dress is the Gulf silhouette — wide, flowing, embroidered at the yoke and sleeves, worn for weddings and evening gatherings. Fabrics favor silk, chiffon, and embellishment. Best for: formal events, Eid, celebratory evenings.
The Saudi silhouette is the closed, single-piece abaya — traditionally in Nida fabric, minimalist, pulled over the head. Our Nida abaya line follows that tradition in modern colorways. Best for: daily wear, travel, prayer, modest uniform.
The Moroccan kaftan is the ancestor of the occasion abaya — wide sleeves, intricate embroidery, heavy embellishment for weddings and Eid celebrations. Fabrics: brocade, velvet, silk. Best for: weddings, Eid, bridal.
Discrete-access designs in soft jersey and cotton blends that work pre-baby, during pregnancy, and postpartum. Kabayare has made nursing-friendly modest dresses for real mothers since the beginning. Best for: nursing, late pregnancy, postpartum recovery.
Chiffon, cotton, and rayon maxis built for summer heat, tropical climates, and moms-on-the-go daily wear. Printed and solid, breathable, easy-care. Best for: warm climates, everyday running-around, travel.
Kabayare has been making modest clothing for over a decade — including nursing-friendly dresses designed for real mothers. Here's what to look for, and what we've built to solve it.
1. Discrete access
A zipper, snap closure, or lift-up panel hidden inside a normal-looking abaya. The key word is hidden — you don't want a visible "nursing" zipper that draws attention.
2. Fabric that gives
Soft jersey, cotton blend, or stretch crepe. Heavy structured fabrics don't move with your body, and your body changes during nursing and postpartum. You want forgiving.
3. Length you can adjust
A nursing abaya should work pre-baby, during pregnancy, and postpartum. Ties, wrap fronts, or flowy silhouettes accommodate the full journey.
Might disappoint: Full floor-length styles that pool at feet, heavy embellishment that drowns frame
Most abayas can be hemmed — we can recommend a local tailor or tag products that tailor well.
The questions we get most — answered without the marketing filter.
These are the things customers actually want to know before buying. We're telling you straight.
Only on the chiffon open abayas (Emirati style) and deliberately so — they are meant to be layered over an inner dress. Every closed abaya and maternity piece in our catalog is fully opaque. If you are unsure about a specific product, check the product page Fabric section or ask us directly.
The crepe, nida, and polyester blends: no, as long as you machine wash cold. The cotton baati: yes, expect 2-3% shrinkage on first wash — size up if you are between sizes. The silk and chiffon formals: we recommend dry clean only.
Most closed and open abayas read professional — especially in black, navy, grey, burgundy. The more embellished kaftans and brocade pieces are evening or occasion wear, not office wear. We tag products work-appropriate where it applies.
We ship from Michigan in 2-3 business days. After that, typical transit times: US 3-5 business days, Canada 5-8, UK 7-12, EU 7-14, Australia 10-15. Holiday seasons (Ramadan, Eid, Christmas) add 2-4 days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
Most of our floor-length abayas are cut for 5 feet 5 to 5 feet 8. At 5 feet 2, expect 3-5 inches of excess length on full-length styles. Mid-calf and dress-length styles (under petite tag) work as-is. Hemming an abaya is typically 20-30 dollars at a local tailor.
Yes — look for cotton, rayon, lightweight crepe, or chiffon in the fabric tag. Avoid nida (heavier, warmer) and any embellished pieces in extreme heat. Our baati line and Indonesian-style gamis are specifically for warm climates.
Yes, absolutely. The abaya is a garment, not a religious obligation. Many of our customers are non-Muslim women who buy from us for modesty preference, sun coverage, comfort, or style. No awkwardness — you are buying clothes from a clothing store.
We have a published returns policy with specific windows and conditions. See our returns page for the full details and to start a return or exchange.
Yes — Lansing, Michigan. You can try on before buying. Address and hours on our contact page.
Most crepe, nida, jersey, and cotton pieces: yes, cold wash and hang dry. Silk chiffon, brocade, heavily embellished: dry clean only. Every product page has its specific care in the Fabric and Care section.
Our nursing and maternity tagged pieces are designed for it. Our flowy A-line and empire-waist abayas work through late pregnancy even without a specific nursing feature. Structured or belted pieces are limited to early pregnancy. Product tags will tell you.
Both, depending on the piece. Our modern abaya lines are small-batch made with higher quality control than fast fashion. Fabric and construction detail is listed on each product page where we have it. If you want specifics on a particular piece, contact us — we will share what we can.
We photograph under daylight-balanced studios, but screens vary. Dark colors photograph close to reality. Beige, taupe, dusty pinks can look lighter on some screens. If color matters, contact us — we will send an additional photo.
Most of our pieces are standard-cut. For hemming or alterations, we can recommend a local tailor in your area. For specific custom requests, email us before ordering and we will tell you what is possible on that piece.
An abaya is a single garment — one piece. A jilbab traditionally refers to two pieces — a tunic top and separate skirt. Both are modest outerwear. Jilbab is more common in South Asian and North African contexts. We stock both under different tags.
Fabric and construction. A 45 dollar abaya uses machine-sewn polyester blends. A 150 dollar abaya uses higher-end fabric and more precise construction. A 300 dollar bridal kaftan uses silk and hand-embellished embroidery — 20-40 hours to make. All are real prices — we do not inflate to discount.
Our XS equals US 0-2, S equals US 4-6, M equals US 8-10, L equals US 12-14, XL equals US 16-18, 2XL equals US 20-22, 3XL equals US 24-26, 4XL equals US 28-30. Abayas are generally cut loose — if between sizes, size down for closed styles and size up for open or kimono styles.
Regular bras are fine under most abayas. For chiffon and sheer overlays, a nude-colored seamless bra reads cleaner. For nursing styles, we recommend a nursing bra with front access aligning to the abaya access point.
Yes — our kids and junior sizing covers younger wearers. Email us if you need a specific size recommendation for a teen or child.
Our kaftans and open kimono abayas work as beach cover-ups. Not intended for swim (not water-resistant). If you need actual swimwear modesty, look at burkinis — we do not currently sell these.
Low to medium heat on the reverse side. Never iron directly on embroidery or beading. For chiffon and silk, steam from a distance. For crepe and nida, a steamer works best. Cotton baati handles a regular iron on medium.
Plain crepe or nida in black, navy, or grey, closed silhouette, no embellishment. Reads as any long-sleeve maxi dress. Filter the collection by closed + minimalist to see matching pieces.
We ship within 1 business day of order by default. If you want us to hold for a specific ship date, email us — we can queue for up to 30 days.
Make sure you are signed in (some automatic discounts require it) and have no other discount code entered (they do not stack). If it still does not work, chat us and we will apply it manually.
No. We work with small-scale partners and our in-house team, not mass production lines. We do not chase the lowest-cost labor. If you want manufacturing details on a specific piece before buying, contact us and we will share what we can.
10,000+ women have bought and reviewed Kabayare
Real reviews from real customers who bought and wore the pieces. We don't filter, curate, or hide.
Kabayare is family-founded in Lansing, Michigan. What started in 2011 as a husband and wife selling from their basement has grown into a modest fashion brand trusted by women in 40+ countries. We shoot our own photography, hire from our community, and treat every customer like family.