The Art of the Kaftan: A Tuttabankem Tradition

There are few pieces of clothing quite as effortless as the kaftan.

Loose, fluid and endlessly adaptable, it has an ease that feels particularly suited to summer. Thrown over swimwear in the morning, worn barefoot on a terrace in the afternoon or dressed with jewellery for a long dinner, a good kaftan asks very little of the woman wearing it. It simply moves with her.

At Tuttabankem, the kaftan has been at the heart of our collections for decades. It is a piece we return to season after season — reimagined through new prints, fabrics and colours, but always retaining the same sense of freedom.

A love of print

For us, the pleasure of a kaftan begins with the fabric.

We have always been drawn to expressive prints: richly coloured paisleys, romantic florals, intricate motifs and patterns with a sense of history. Some are exuberant, others more restrained, but each brings its own character to the simple beauty of the kaftan silhouette.

There is something wonderfully individual about a printed kaftan. The same shape can feel entirely different in deep bottle green velvet, softly faded rose or crisp cotton, simply because of the fabric and pattern.

Perhaps that is why the kaftan never feels quite like a uniform. It leaves room for personality.

Cotton for summer days

Our cotton kaftans are made for the lighter moments of summer.

Breathable and easy to wear, they are the pieces you reach for on warm mornings and holidays — slipped over swimwear, worn with sandals or simply carried with you from breakfast to the beach.

The beauty lies in their simplicity. There is no need for complicated styling. Add a pair of earrings, a favourite necklace or a basket and the kaftan does the rest.

Silk and velvet after dark

Then there are the kaftans that belong to evening.

Our Atelier Collection brings together more sumptuous fabrics, including silk and silk velvet, chosen for their depth, movement and beautiful hand.

These are kaftans with a little more drama. Worn loose and flowing, they have an innate elegance; with statement jewellery and a pair of simple sandals, they become evening dressing without ever feeling overdone.

It is this versatility that we love most. A kaftan can be relaxed or glamorous, understated or expressive — sometimes all within the same day.

The beauty of movement

A kaftan should never feel restrictive.

The generous silhouette allows the fabric to fall naturally around the body, creating movement as you walk. Long lengths sweep around the ankles; side slits bring ease; softly gathered or relaxed shapes allow the garment to move with you rather than against you.

There is a particular confidence in clothing that does not ask you to hold yourself in.

The best kaftans are comfortable, but they are never merely comfortable. They make an entrance.

Jewellery makes the difference

We have always loved the way a kaftan becomes a canvas for jewellery.

A simple cotton kaftan can take on an entirely new character with a sculptural necklace or a collection of ribbons, resin and wood. A rich velvet style may need little more than a pair of earrings.

The joy is in the mixing. Nothing needs to match perfectly. In fact, the most interesting combinations rarely do.

A little eclecticism feels very much at home with a Tuttabankem kaftan.

Made to be worn for years

We don't think of the kaftan as a fleeting holiday trend.

A truly good kaftan earns its place in a wardrobe. It becomes the piece packed for every summer escape, the one remembered years later from a particular holiday, dinner or evening spent somewhere warm.

Perhaps that is why the kaftan has remained so enduring.

It offers something modern fashion often forgets: freedom, individuality and the pleasure of simply being beautifully dressed.

At Tuttabankem, we will continue to make them in the way we have always loved them — distinctive, effortless and full of character.

For holidays, long lunches, warm evenings and everywhere in between.

The kaftan, beautifully uncomplicated.