July 29, 2026 · Mahesh Agarwal, Founder
Ask ten people what a kurti is and you will get ten slightly different answers. The word now covers an enormous range, from a hip-length casual top worn with jeans to a floor-length Anarkali worn at a wedding. For anyone buying kurtis, and particularly for anyone stocking them, understanding how the category actually divides is the difference between a rack that moves and one that sits.
There is no official classification. In practice the trade sorts kurtis four ways: by length and cut, by fabric, by the work done on them, and by the occasion they are made for. Almost every kurti belongs to all four at once. A printed cotton short kurti is a length, a fabric, a technique and an occasion in a single garment.
Short kurtis end at or just below the hip. They are the natural partner to jeans, leggings and palazzos, which is why they dominate college and casual wear. They also photograph well, which matters more than it used to. Our range of short kurtis covers most of the everyday cuts.
Long kurtis fall anywhere from calf length to ankle length. These carry the formal and office end of the category, and they take a dupatta well. If a customer wants one kurti that works for both work and a family function, it is usually a long kurti.
Straight cut kurtis hang parallel from shoulder to hem. They suit most body types and are the safest bet for office wear. A-line kurtis narrow at the shoulder and widen towards the hem, which flatters a wider range of figures and moves better when walking.
Anarkali styles are fitted through the bodice and flare dramatically below, often to floor length. These are festive and wedding garments rather than daily wear, and they sell in concentrated bursts around the season. The Anarkali and long gown range sits at that end of the market.
Cotton remains the volume leader in India for the obvious reason that it breathes. It suits daily wear and takes prints beautifully. We covered this in detail in our complete guide to cotton kurtis, and the full range sits under cotton kurtas.
Crepe has a fluid drape and a slightly textured surface. It creases far less than cotton, which makes it popular for travel and long working days. Crepe kurtis tend to sell steadily rather than seasonally.
Silk and silk blends occupy the premium and festive end. They photograph richly and hold embroidery well, though they demand more care from the customer. The silk range is built around occasion wear.
Denim is a smaller but loyal segment. Denim kurtis bridge Indian and western wear, and they appeal to a younger buyer who wants something sturdier than cotton.
Rayon and viscose deserve a mention even though they are technically man-made. They drape well, hold colour brightly and sit at an accessible price, which is why so much of the mid-market runs on them.
Printed kurtis are the largest selling group by a wide margin. Block prints, floral prints and geometric prints on cotton bases cover most of everyday demand. Browse printed kurtis for the range.
Digital prints allow photographic detail and colour gradients that traditional screen printing cannot reproduce. They have grown quickly in the last few years, and digital print kurtis now form a category of their own.
Embroidered kurtis carry thread work at the neckline, yoke, sleeves or hem. The amount of work decides the price band more than the fabric does. See embroidery kurtis for the spread.
Chikankari is the fine white shadow work associated with Lucknow, usually on cotton, mul or georgette. It is one of the few styles that sells through summer and festive months alike. Chikankari kurtis hold their appeal across generations of buyers.
Beaded and hand-worked tunics sit at the decorative end, meant for parties and evening wear rather than daily use. Beaded tunics are a small but high-value part of most ranges.
For everyday and home wear, casual kurti tunics in cotton and rayon do the heavy lifting. Office buyers look for structured cuts in solid colours or restrained prints, which is where the broader ladies kurtis range comes in.
Festive and evening demand moves towards party wear kurtis and the designer kurtis and tunics range, where fabric, work and finish all step up together.
A quiet shift over the last decade has been the move from separates to sets. Kurta pant sets now account for a large share of office wear because they remove the daily problem of matching a bottom. Co-ord sets extend the same logic to more relaxed styling, and three piece sets add a dupatta for festive and formal use.
Two smaller categories are worth knowing. Maternity kurtis are cut for comfort and ease through pregnancy and afterwards, and they attract very loyal customers. Kaftan tunics offer a loose, unstructured fit that has moved from resort wear into regular home wear.
If you are building a range rather than a wardrobe, the useful question is not which type is best but which combination covers your customer. Most shops do well anchoring on cotton and printed styles for volume, adding crepe and rayon for variety, keeping a small festive block of embroidered and party wear, and holding one or two purpose-built categories that bring repeat buyers back. Depth on the styles that sell matters more than breadth across styles that do not.
Our wholesale buying guide covers range planning and order sizing, and the kurti business guide is the place to start if you are setting up. Retailers who want to sell under their own label can look at starting your own kurti brand. Our post on building your own USP is also relevant here, since range selection is one of the few things a competitor cannot copy overnight.
Snehal Creation Inc has been manufacturing women’s ethnic wear in Mumbai since 2003, supplying retailers across India with kurtis, tunics and tops across every category described above, at wholesale rates that leave room for a healthy margin.
WhatsApp: +91 97695 39989
Website: www.snehalcreation.com
Wholesale registration: Create your wholesale account
बेहतर कुर्तियाँ, बेहतर बिज़नेस, बेहतर भविष्य।
