Abayas · 4 October 2026 · 5 min read
Black or coloured abaya? How to choose a colour
Black or coloured abaya? The practical case for each, which shades work for everyday wear, how heat, fading and dust affect them, and how to choose your colour.
InspirationBoth have a place
Choose black if you want a timeless, formal abaya that hides small stains and suits every setting; choose a coloured abaya if you want something softer, cooler in direct sun, or more personal. Many wardrobes hold one of each. Neither is more correct, and the right answer depends on your climate, your daily routine and, in some places, local custom about what is usual to wear.
Here is what to weigh up, and how to pick a shade if you go beyond black.
The case for black, and its quirks
Black is the traditional abaya colour across much of the Gulf, and it remains popular everywhere for good reasons. It looks smart in any light, makes embroidery or a lustrous trim stand out, and conceals the small marks of a busy day. A black abaya never looks out of place.
It has habits, though. Black shows pale dust, lint and pet hair, and deodorant marks at the underarms. It absorbs more heat in direct sun. And black dyes can fade with washing and sunlight, drifting towards a brownish or greyish tone, which becomes obvious if a faded abaya is worn next to a newer black scarf. Washing cool, inside out, with a detergent for darks, and drying in the shade all slow this down. Our abaya washing guide has the full routine.
Coloured shades that work well
- Navy and midnight blue: as practical as black, a little softer, and easier on the eye in bright sun.
- Charcoal and dove grey: modern and calm; grey hides dust better than black.
- Chocolate, camel and beige: warm neutrals that feel cooler in heat and pair easily with gold jewellery.
- Olive, bottle green and burgundy: deep jewel shades that feel rich without being loud, lovely in winter.
- Dusty pink, sage and lilac: gentle pastels for daytime and spring, though pale shades show marks more readily and may need a lining.
Choosing a colour that suits you
An abaya sits close to the face through the scarf and neckline, so the colour affects how bright and rested you look. A simple test is to hold a fabric under your chin in daylight and watch your skin: some shades make it glow, others make it look grey or tired. Our gentle guide to colours that suit your skin tone explains warm and cool undertones without strict rules.
Think about what you will wear with it, too. A camel abaya with a cream scarf feels very different from the same abaya with a black one. If you plan a matching inner dress or scarf, they can be quoted together with the abaya so the shades are chosen as a set.
Dye quality and colour on screen
Deep colours, red and black especially, are the most likely to bleed. If you are sending your own fabric, try the simple colour-fastness test before it is stitched, particularly if it will sit next to a pale lining or embroidery thread.
Colours on a screen are never exact. Lighting, cameras and screen settings all shift a shade, so photos of fabric can look slightly different from the real cloth, and a small difference in shade is not a fault. When we share fabric photos with a Fabric + Stitching quote, look at them on more than one screen if colour matters to you.
Ordering in black or colour
For a made-to-measure abaya, name the colour you want and, if possible, attach a photo of something in that exact shade. With Fabric + Stitching in Kuwait or any other country, we share photos and descriptions of the proposed fabric with your quote. Customers in cities such as Salmiya and Birmingham often send a scarf photo so the abaya colour can be chosen around it.
Begin on the quote form, choose Abaya, and describe the colour in plain words as well as with a photo.
Common questions
Why do black abayas turn brown?
Black dyes fade gradually with washing, heat and sunlight, which can leave a brownish or greyish cast. Wash cool and inside out with a detergent for dark colours, and dry in the shade.
What colour abaya is easiest to keep looking neat?
Navy, charcoal and mid greys are very forgiving. They hide both dark stains and pale dust better than black or pastels.
Will the colour match the photo exactly?
Colours can look slightly different in photos because of lighting, cameras and screens. A small difference in shade is not a fault, so describe the colour in words as well as with a photo.
