Published April 2026 · By the La Moda Merchandising Team · 6 minute read
Wholesale kaftans are one of the fastest-growing resort retail categories in the US. Independent beach boutiques, resort gift shops, cruise retail, and spa boutiques all stock them — and sell-through rates for well-bought kaftans consistently beat swimwear sell-through in shoulder seasons. But buying kaftans wholesale is different from buying swim. This guide covers the buying decisions that matter: fabric, silhouette, pack sizing, print, and timing.
Why kaftans sell year-round in resort retail
Unlike bikinis, which peak in a narrow May–August window, kaftans sell across four distinct retail moments:
- Summer beach cover-up. Shorter kaftans and tunics pair with swim.
- Fall/winter resort wear. Longer maxi kaftans work as dresses for cruises and Caribbean travel.
- Gift retail. Kaftans are popular gifts — November–December retail bumps kaftan sell-through substantially.
- Loungewear crossover. Customers increasingly buy kaftans as at-home loungewear, extending the season beyond vacation retail.
This year-round appeal is why wholesale kaftans are now one of La Moda's largest B2B categories.
Fabric: the biggest buying decision
Three fabrics dominate wholesale kaftan inventory: rayon, chiffon, and cotton blends. Each has distinct sell-through patterns.
Rayon kaftans
The workhorse fabric. Rayon has excellent drape, takes prints beautifully, and holds up across wash cycles. Most mid-range to premium wholesale kaftans in the US are rayon or rayon-blend. Price points sit in the $15–25 wholesale range depending on construction. Best for: beach boutiques, cruise retail, year-round merchandising.
Chiffon kaftans
Lighter, more sheer, more "occasion." Chiffon kaftans work best as evening resort wear or layering pieces. Higher perceived value at retail; sell-through is narrower. Price points: $18–30 wholesale. Best for: resort stores, gift retail, spa boutiques.
Cotton and cotton-blend kaftans
More structured, more "daytime casual." Cotton kaftans sell well in mainland US beach boutiques (where humidity is higher) and as summer loungewear. Price points: $12–20 wholesale. Best for: beach boutiques, festival retailers, spa retail.
The buying rule: stock at least two of the three fabric types. Buyers who carry only rayon miss customers who want structure (cotton) or occasion-wear (chiffon).
Silhouette: what actually sells
La Moda's wholesale kaftan data across 500+ US boutiques shows consistent sell-through patterns by silhouette:
- Maxi kaftan (ankle-length): 40% of kaftan sell-through. Works as a dress and a cover-up; widest appeal.
- Midi kaftan (mid-calf): 25% of sell-through. Strong in cruise retail and spa boutiques.
- Short tunic / kaftan top: 20% of sell-through. Strongest in mainland beach boutiques with younger customer bases.
- Bell-sleeve or kimono-style kaftan: 15% of sell-through. Higher-price boutique positioning; sells to "statement piece" shoppers.
If you're starting a kaftan assortment, weight your first order: 40% maxi, 25% midi, 20% tunic, 15% kimono/bell-sleeve. Adjust based on your customer mix.
Print and color: what to look for
Boho and tropical prints dominate resort retail kaftan sell-through. Specifically:
- Tropical florals. Palm, hibiscus, ocean palette. Year-round evergreen.
- Boho and tribal. Ikat, chevron, embroidered borders. Younger-skewing, festival-adjacent.
- Solid with embroidery. White, ivory, coral, turquoise — with hand-embroidered details. Higher-margin, gift-retail positioning.
- Animal print. Cheetah, zebra — a cyclical print that returns every 3–5 years. Stocks well when the trend is on.
- Monochrome white. For honeymoon, wedding, and spa retail.
Avoid over-ordering any single trend print. Spread your order across 4–6 distinct print stories so your customers can find their preference.
Pack sizing
Wholesale kaftans are typically sold in size-run packs. La Moda packs come in coordinated sizes (typically S, M, L, XL with a 1-2-2-1 distribution, meaning 1 small, 2 medium, 2 large, 1 XL per pack). This distribution matches typical US resort retail sell-through.
For extended-size markets (plus-size boutiques or customer bases), we offer expanded size runs on request. Email us before ordering if your customer base skews curve-focused.
Timing: when to order kaftans
Our kaftan drops follow this calendar:
- Early March: Spring/summer kaftan drop (short tunics, summer beach cover-ups).
- Early July: Resort and cruise kaftan drop (longer maxi kaftans, cruise-season stock).
- Early September: Fall/winter kaftan drop (heavier fabrics, longer silhouettes, gift-retail-ready prints).
- Mid-October: Holiday and gift kaftan drop (embroidered, higher-price).
To capture each seasonal window, order 6–8 weeks before retail peak. See our full wholesale buying calendar for the complete schedule.
Pricing expectations
US wholesale kaftan pricing typically falls in these ranges:
- Entry level (cotton, basic prints): $10–16 wholesale / $30–50 retail
- Mid-tier (rayon, tropical and boho prints): $15–25 wholesale / $50–80 retail
- Premium (embroidered, chiffon, embellished): $25–40 wholesale / $80–150 retail
Most successful independent boutiques carry a mix across tiers: 60% mid-tier (the workhorses), 25% premium (the statement pieces), 15% entry level (gift-price-point and impulse buys).
Common kaftan buying mistakes
- Over-ordering one trend print. If a cheetah print is hot, you might order 20 packs of it. But trend prints cool quickly. Limit any single print to 10–15% of your kaftan stock.
- Only carrying maxi length. You'll miss tunic-buyers, shorter-stature customers, and cruise-retail preferences for midi.
- Not stocking white. White kaftans are a year-round evergreen — bridal, honeymoon, spa, and resort. Every kaftan assortment should have at least one white style.
- Ignoring size range. If you're in an area with curvier customers, order extended sizes. If you don't, you'll sell out of L/XL and be left with S/M markdowns.
- Buying for yourself instead of your customer. Your personal kaftan taste isn't a data signal. Your sell-through data from last season is.
How to start
Browse Wholesale Kaftans — we stock rayon, chiffon, and cotton-blend styles across maxi, midi, and tunic silhouettes. Our Wholesale Overview covers MOQ and payment terms. Questions about fabric, print trends, or sizing? Email our merchandising team — we see kaftan sell-through data across hundreds of US boutiques and can tell you what's moving in your specific market.
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