A perfectly versatile and stylish garment, the kaftan is a must-have fashion item for summer. Derived from the many versions of kaftan (or caftan) worn worldwide, the airy, light weight, long sleeved ‘shirt’ style kaftan can be worn in numerous ways and on a variety of occasions – casual to formal and as part of day or evening wear.

This is a wonderful flash-back to the heady summers of the late 60s when the kaftan was a symbol of peace and love, often printed with bright swirling patterns or paisley with additional embroidery. Long hair, beads and sandals were fashionable for both men and women and the kaftan became a popular unisex garment often worn with faded bell-bottom denim jeans and perhaps a wide brimmed floppy felt hat.

Now the designer kaftan has come of age in the 21st century and is making fashion headlines. With a wide range of new mode fabrics, dyes and printed patterns, diamonte decoration and decorative stitching – the kaftan will appeal to fashion stylists across the globe.

A dream to accessorise with belts, bags and jewellery, the kaftan will provide an excellent starting point for creative designers. Worn either as dress-style or as an additional over layer for beach or leisure wear – the kaftan is set to be re-invented as an extremely well loved fashion icon – a integral part of any inventive wardrobe.