Wholesale Cotton Nightgowns from India: Export Guide for USA, UK, Canada, Australia & UAE Buyers

Written by Pratyaksh, founder of Sephani. Updated 13 October 2026. Duty and tariff rules in this guide were checked on that date and they change often, so confirm current rates with your customs broker before you order.

Quick summary: Sephani is a Delhi-based manufacturer of 100% cotton nightgowns and nightwear. We make everything in-house, in sizes M to 4XL, with 5XL and 6XL made to order for an extra customisation charge. We welcome wholesale enquiries from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and the UAE. Export orders are quoted per enquiry, so there is no fixed export price list. To start, message us on WhatsApp: +91 98113 39397.

If you want to buy wholesale cotton nightgowns from India for a boutique, a marketplace store or a nightwear label in the USA, UK or another overseas market, this guide covers what you can rely on: who we are, what we make, what duties and labelling rules apply, and exactly how to start an order.

What is in this guide

• Why overseas buyers are looking at India now
• Market by market: USA, UK, Canada, Australia, UAE
• What we make
• Duties, tariffs and landed cost
• Labelling and safety rules to plan for
• Four problems importers raise, and our answer
• How to start an export order
• FAQs

Why overseas buyers are looking at India now

The global sleepwear market was worth about USD 14.7 billion in 2025 according to IMARC, and cotton is the largest material segment. Another market study puts North America at 28.4% and Europe at 22.1% of global nightwear revenue, so those two regions together account for roughly half of it. Women's nightwear is the biggest end-user segment in that study.

Two trade changes in 2026 also make sourcing from India easier to plan:

• UK: the India-UK trade agreement (CETA) came into force on 15 July 2026 and gives duty-free access for Indian apparel, which previously faced duties of up to 12%.
• USA: tariffs on Indian goods have moved a lot. They were cut from an effective 50% to 18% under a February 2026 interim framework, then the legal basis changed again, and since 24 July 2026 new Section 301 tariffs of 10% or 12.5% apply to about 60 countries, including India. Ask your broker which rate and exemptions apply to your product.

Market by market: USA, UK, Canada, Australia, UAE

USA. North America is the second-largest nightwear region and the US accounts for most of its demand. Shoppers there usually search for "nightgown" or "nightshirt". You will need fibre-content, care and flammability compliance (see below), and you should price in the current tariff.

UK. Shoppers say "nightie" as often as "nightgown". With CETA in force, duty can be zero on qualifying goods, but only if the origin paperwork is right. The UK also has nightwear-specific safety rules that apply to adult garments.

Canada. Nightwear there is growing at roughly 5.4% a year, with buyers leaning towards natural and sustainable fibres, which suits 100% cotton. Labelling rules differ from the US, so send us your requirements early.

Australia and the UAE. We take enquiries from both. Australian buyers use "nightie" like UK buyers. Tell us your import and labelling requirements in your first message and we will say what we can supply.

What we make

We started in 2022 and design and cut everything at our own unit in Delhi, so there is no trading middleman between you and the factory. More than 30 nightgown designs are available, plus night suits, co-ord sets and knee-length nightgowns.

• Fabric: 100% cotton. Our ruffle-neck and lace-neck maxi nightgowns use a medium-weight woven cotton at 110 to 120 GSM. The premium lace-yoke range uses a denser 120 to 130 GSM weave.
• Prints: reactive-dye printing, so colour is bonded into the fibre and holds up in repeated washing. Pigment prints tend to fade within a season, which is the usual cause of returns.
• Stitching: overlocked seams, reinforced neckline and shoulder stitching, and every batch inspected before dispatch.
• Sizes: Indian sizing M to 4XL as standard, with 5XL and 6XL made to order for an additional customisation charge. Many suppliers stop at XL or 2XL, so extended sizes are an easy way to stand out. Our plus-size guide explains the fit.
• Private label: available. Our standing threshold for custom branding on domestic orders is 500 pieces; export thresholds are confirmed on enquiry.

Browse live designs: Beige lace yoke nightgown, Lavender floral nightgown and Maroon printed lace yoke nightgown. For a view of what these sell for at retail in India, see our cotton nighty price guide.

Duties, tariffs and landed cost

Your landed cost is the ex-factory price plus freight, insurance, customs duty and any additional tariff. Of those, the tariff line is the one that has changed most in the last year, so ask for a written quote and have your broker confirm duty on the day you ship.

Classification also matters. Woven cotton nightgowns generally fall under HS heading 6208 and knitted ones (for example hosiery or jersey nightgowns) under 6108. Your broker confirms the final code for your market, and we will tell you which of our designs is woven and which is knitted.

For the UK, the CETA preference is not automatic. Importers need documented proof of origin, and the fibre, yarn and fabric origin all count. We will tell you up front whether a given design qualifies.

Labelling and safety rules to plan for

This section covers adult nightgowns only. Children's sleepwear has stricter rules in both countries and is handled separately.

• USA: textile products need a fibre-content and country-of-origin label (16 CFR Part 303), a care label (16 CFR Part 423) and must meet the clothing flammability standard (16 CFR Part 1610). Importers are expected to be able to show compliance.
• UK: all nightwear on the market is covered by the Nightwear (Safety) Regulations 1985, which include labelling rules for adults' nightwear, alongside the standard textile fibre-composition labelling rules.

Tell us your market's labelling requirements before production and we will confirm what we can apply. If you need a lab test report, tell us which test, and we will confirm the options for your order.

Four problems importers raise, and our answer

1. Sizing that does not match the listing. We use Indian sizing M to 4XL. Send us your target measurements and we will compare them with our garment measurements before you commit.

2. Shrinkage and fading after the first wash. Our fabric is finished to reduce first-wash shrinkage and our prints are reactive-dye. Our cotton shrinkage guide explains the care side you can pass on to customers.

3. Unclear landed cost. You get a written quote, and we flag the duty and labelling questions that affect your market before you pay.

4. Slow communication across time zones. You message the founder's WhatsApp directly, and details stay in one thread instead of passing through an agent.

How to start an export order

1. Send an enquiry on WhatsApp with: your country and business type, the designs you like, estimated quantities per size, any private-label or labelling needs, and the test reports you require.
2. Receive a written quotation with pricing basis, quantities and the points that need your broker's input
3. Confirm the order and payment terms shown in your quotation.
4. Production, inspection and dispatch with tracking shared on WhatsApp.

Selling to buyers inside India instead? See our wholesale supplier page for Indian retailers.

Frequently asked questions

Do you export nightgowns outside India?

We welcome overseas wholesale enquiries and quote each export order individually. There is no fixed export price list yet, so message us with your requirement.

What is your minimum order quantity for export?

Export minimums are confirmed per design and destination when you enquire. Tell us your target quantity and we will say whether it works.

Do you offer plus sizes?

Yes. We stock M to 4XL and make 5XL and 6XL to order for an extra customisation charge.

Is there duty on nightgowns going to the UK or the USA?

UK duty can be zero under the India-UK CETA for qualifying goods with the right origin proof. US tariffs have changed several times in 2025 and 2026, so confirm the current rate with your customs broker when you order.

Which payment methods do you accept for export orders?

Payment terms are set in your quotation. New buyers should expect to pay in advance, as with our domestic wholesale orders.

Get in touch

The fastest way to start is a WhatsApp message to +91 98113 39397. Tell us your country, the designs you want and your quantities, and we will reply with availability and a quotation. You can also see everything we make at sephani.co.in.