Kaftan Rome

The kaftan is a loose, flowing garment of Eastern origin, characterised by a straight cut with wide sleeves and an open neckline. It is worn as a single dress — simply slipped over the head — and needs no belts or accessories to feel complete. The women’s kaftan in Indian cotton is particularly lightweight and breathable, ideal for those who seek comfort without sacrificing elegance. It can be worn full-length to the ankle or with flat sandals for a relaxed yet polished look. Unlike a structured dress, the kaftan flatters every silhouette with ease, adapting to the body without constraining it.

Block printing is an Indian artisanal technique that dates back centuries. Artisans hand-carve wooden blocks — one for each element of the design and each colour — and press them onto the cotton with precision, repeating the motif across the entire surface of the fabric. The pigments used are natural or plant-based and are applied layer by layer. The entire process is carried out by hand, without machinery, and can take an entire day for a single garment. This craftsmanship produces prints with subtle variations in alignment and colour intensity that make every piece unique and unrepeatable.

Kaftan and caftan refer to the same garment: the difference is purely one of spelling. The spelling “kaftan” with a K is closer to the original transliteration from Turkish and Arabic, while “caftan” with a C is the more common Italian variant. In both cases, it is a long, ample garment with a straight cut and wide sleeves, originally a ceremonial robe in the Ottoman and Persian courts. In the Fabindia Roma version, the women’s kaftan is crafted in Indian cotton hand-printed with the block print technique, uniting the Eastern tradition of the cut with the Indian artisanal mastery of textile printing.

Hand-printed cotton requires a little care to preserve the vibrancy of its colours. We recommend hand-washing or machine-washing at a low temperature (maximum 30°C) on a delicate cycle with a neutral detergent. Avoid bleach and tumble drying: it is best to hang the kaftan in the shade on a hanger to maintain the softness of the fibres and the integrity of the print. During the first wash, natural pigments may release slightly — this is entirely normal and does not affect the colour quality. Wash after wash, Indian cotton grows even softer and more pleasant to the touch, acquiring that lived-in character that makes every artisanal garment unmistakable.

The cotton kaftan is a self-sufficient garment by nature, yet it is enriched by the right accessories. To add warmth in the evening hours, a wool and cashmere shawl draped over the shoulders creates an elegant textural contrast between the lightness of cotton and the softness of wool. For going out, a Roma quilted cotton shopper completes the look with artisanal coherence. Artisanal printed cotton babouches are the ideal footwear to round off the ensemble: lightweight, comfortable and coordinated with the same block print patterns as the kaftan.