What to Wear in Zanzibar
What to Wear
in Zanzibar
For the woman who knows that the most powerful fashion in the world comes from where we come from
Shop the Zanzibar EditDiscover luxury resort wear, kaftans, and vacation dresses designed for Zanzibar's spice markets, Stone Town's UNESCO-listed lanes, the turquoise Indian Ocean at Nungwi, and the kind of East African sunsets that stop conversation completely. Sai Sankoh pieces are designed for women who dress with intention — available in sizes 0 through 24, shipping in 24–48 hours.
Sai Sankoh was founded by a woman born in Sierra Leone — West Africa — and built in Dallas. The artisan hats in the collection are handcrafted by Tanzanian women — East Africa, the same country as Zanzibar. Every hat is singular. Every kaftan is bold. The connection between this brand and this island is not a marketing decision. It is geography, heritage, and craft, meeting in a piece of clothing worn by a woman who understands all three.
Zanzibar is where the Indian Ocean turns a colour that photographs cannot do justice to. The spice island of Tanzania sits just off the East African coast, and it carries the weight of centuries — Arab traders, Portuguese explorers, British colonists, all of them drawn to the same thing: this extraordinary place where the clove trees scent the air and the dhow boats sail against a sky that turns every shade of orange and red and purple at sunset.
Stone Town, the ancient heart of Zanzibar, is a UNESCO World Heritage site of carved wooden doors, narrow winding lanes, and the mingling of African, Arab, and South Asian architecture that makes it unlike anywhere else on earth. The beaches of Nungwi and Kendwa to the north, Paje to the south — white sand, turquoise Indian Ocean, the sound of the muezzin at dawn and again at sunset.
The Nawara print — Caribbean queen, bold and unapologetic — carries unexpected resonance here. Its yellow, green, and red-black leopard energy speaks the same language as Zanzibar's own vibrancy: loud colour, confident beauty, absolutely certain of itself. The Magdalene print — multi-colour floral leaf, the brand's legacy print — photographs against Zanzibar's blue water and ancient terracotta architecture like it was designed for exactly this backdrop.
The women who made your hat
live in this part of the world.
Every Sai Sankoh artisan hat is individually handcrafted by Tanzanian women artisans. Each one is singular — yours will never be exactly like anyone else's. That is not a feature. That is a value. When you wear one in Zanzibar, you are wearing the work of a woman who may never know your name, in the country where that hat was born.
Worn by Beyoncé, Lupita Nyong'o, Gabrielle Union and women around the world who refuse to go unnoticed · Sizes 0–24 · Ships in 24–48 hours
"I wore the Nawara Kaftan and the Imani hat together in Zanzibar and a woman in Stone Town stopped me to ask where the hat was made. When I said Tanzania, she smiled like she already knew. That moment alone was worth everything."
The Zanzibar Edit
Six pieces. One suitcase. Every moment covered.
Packing for Zanzibar
Zanzibar is a predominantly Muslim island and modest dressing is both respectful and appreciated when you move through Stone Town and the local villages. The Nawara and Magdalene Goddess Kaftans are floor-length and long-sleeved — they navigate the spice markets, the mosque streets, and the beach with equal grace. The kaftan is culturally resonant here in a way that no other resort silhouette can match.
The Sai Sankoh artisan hat is the single most meaningful piece you can bring to Zanzibar. Handcrafted by Tanzanian women artisans — the same country you are visiting — the Imani or Emmeline hat is not just sun protection or styling. It is a piece of Tanzania, worn in Tanzania, by a woman who chose it deliberately. That story is worth telling to everyone who asks.
Zanzibar's Indian Ocean water at Nungwi Beach is one of the most vivid turquoise blues in the world — the Nawara print's Caribbean yellow and leopard palette creates extraordinary contrast against it. The Magdalene print's multi-colour floral leaf echoes the island's own botanical richness. Both photograph magnificently against the white sand and ancient Stone Town architecture. Pack both and let the island decide which to wear each day.
Every Sai Sankoh piece is designed to fit sizes 0 through 24. The kaftans are one-size-fits-all — which means they actually fit all.
Zanzibar Style Guide
Everything you need to know before you pack for East Africa
What should women wear in Zanzibar?
Zanzibar is a predominantly Muslim island with a rich East African, Arab, and South Asian cultural heritage. Outside of resort and hotel zones, modest dressing is both expected and respectful — shoulders and knees covered, and flowing garments are appropriate and admired. Floor-length kaftans are one of the most culturally resonant pieces you can wear here: they are practical in the heat, respectful in the markets and towns, and genuinely beautiful against the island's architecture and landscape. In the beach resort zones, the full range of resort fashion is appropriate.
What should I pack for Zanzibar?
Pack for Zanzibar's three distinct environments: the ancient lanes of Stone Town (modest, covered), the beach resorts of Nungwi and Kendwa (resort fashion), and the open-air restaurants and sunset bars (elegant casual). The Nawara and Magdalene Goddess Kaftans cover all three with a single silhouette. The Nawara Scarf doubles as a beach accessory, Stone Town head covering, and styling piece. The Sai Sankoh artisan hat, handcrafted in Tanzania, is the most meaningful accessory you can bring to this island.
Is Zanzibar dressy?
Zanzibar rewards intentional dressing without demanding formality. The island has a strong aesthetic culture — both in its own fashion traditions and in the international resort culture that has developed around its extraordinary beaches. At the beach clubs and upscale hotels, elevated resort wear is the standard. In Stone Town, the cultural and historical environment rewards clothing that is thoughtful and respectful. A Sai Sankoh kaftan threads both worlds beautifully.
What colors look best in Zanzibar?
Zanzibar's palette is extraordinary — the turquoise and deep blue of the Indian Ocean, the terracotta and ochre of Stone Town's ancient architecture, the green of the spice plantations, the white of the sand beaches. Bold, vibrant prints with warm tones photograph magnificently here. The Nawara print's yellow-green-leopard reads beautifully against both the blue water and the terracotta town. The Magdalene print's multi-colour florals echo the island's botanical richness. Rich, confident colour is the right choice for Zanzibar.
Where are the Sai Sankoh artisan hats made?
Every Sai Sankoh artisan hat is individually handcrafted by Tanzanian women artisans — the same country as Zanzibar, which is a semi-autonomous island of Tanzania. Each hat is singular and may vary slightly in appearance from photographs. When you wear a Sai Sankoh hat in Zanzibar, you are wearing the work of a local artisan in her own country. The Imani (13-inch brim, $850), Emmeline (17-inch brim, $850), and Isis (19-inch brim, $1,250) are all available, as are the one-of-a-kind Amina, Rosalia, Jude, Farida, Dativa, and Saida hats at $1,050 each.
What should I wear to visit Stone Town Zanzibar?
Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a living Muslim community — the narrow carved-door lanes are people's homes and neighbourhoods as much as they are a tourist attraction. Modest dress is respectful and expected: shoulders covered, knees covered, and flowing rather than tight silhouettes. A floor-length Goddess Kaftan is the ideal Stone Town outfit — it is culturally appropriate, practical in the narrow shaded lanes, and genuinely beautiful against the ornate carved doors that make Stone Town famous.
What should I wear on the beach in Zanzibar?
On the dedicated resort and hotel beaches of Zanzibar — particularly Nungwi Beach, Kendwa, and Paje — the full range of resort fashion is appropriate. A luxury kaftan over a swimsuit is ideal for the beach clubs and when moving between the beach and the resort restaurants. The Nawara Kaftan's vibrant palette photographs extraordinarily against the turquoise Indian Ocean water. On public or village beaches, more modest coverups are appreciated.
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?
June through October and December through March are the best seasons for Zanzibar — dry, warm, and with the turquoise Indian Ocean at its calmest. The rainy seasons (April–May and November) bring heavy downpours and some beach limitations. For fashion photography, the dry season golden hour light on the East African coast is extraordinary — the Nawara and Magdalene prints both photograph at their best in warm, clear Indian Ocean late afternoon light.
Your Zanzibar wardrobe starts here
The Nawara was made for the Caribbean queen. She belongs on the Indian Ocean too.
Shop the Zanzibar Edit
