What to bring back from Marrakech: the caftan

You come home from Marrakech with spices, sometimes a rug, often babouches. But the piece you remember ten years later is the caftan: because you wear it, because it tells the story of the trip, and because it does not date.

Why the caftan rather than another souvenir

• You keep it and wear it. Unlike a decorative object, a fine caftan enters a wardrobe and comes back out for celebrations.
• It is personalised on the spot. Alterations, length, colour: adjusted during the stay.
• It fits in a suitcase. A piece laid flat and well folded travels without damage.
• It carries a story. With us, every piece comes with its own — the cloth, the motif, the workshop that embroidered it.

Choosing well in a few days

1. Aim at a real occasion. “For a wedding this summer”, “for the holidays”, “for Eid”: say it, and we show you the right pieces.
2. Favour deep tones if it is your first caftan: they are easier to wear once home than very bright colours.
3. Feel the fabric. Linen and cotton-silk for relaxed wear; silk and velvet for a formal piece.
4. Look at the inside and the back of the embroidery: that is where quality shows.
5. Try it on, then have it altered. A piece in your size changes everything, and the alteration takes a day or two.

Our caftan / takchita / jellaba glossary will help you name what you are looking for.

How the price works

Prices are not displayed: they depend on the cloth and the embroidered area. We discuss them calmly, in the shop or on WhatsApp. Give your range up front — it is the best way to move fast and see suitable pieces.

Carrying it home

We pack every piece for travel: tissue paper, flat, in a cover. For a heavily embroidered takchita, take it on a hanger as cabin baggage. Once home, take it out of the cover, air it, and hang it on a wide hanger. The care detail is in this article.

Wearing it once you’re back

A plain, fluid caftan is worn in Europe like a dressy long dress: a dinner, a wedding, a year-end party. A pale gandoura makes a fine summer outfit for a man. And if you do not dare wear the very colourful piece day to day, keep it for big occasions: that is exactly its role in Morocco.

Where to go in Marrakech

Tazi Caftan is in Jnane Awrad, about ten minutes from Jemaa el-Fna square. We speak French, English and Arabic, try and alter on the spot, and ship worldwide if you would rather decide once home. See the Visit us page for directions and hours.