So what does "baati" mean?

We actively refer to the dress that we sell as a “baati”, it is literally in our name and so do many people around the world. But that is not the actual name of the dress. The dress is actually called a “dirac baati” (or “dirac shiid”), and it’s simply shortened to “baati” (or “shiid”). 
 
The breakdown of the name is an explanation of the garment itself, with the dirac referring to the shape of the dress; the formless, rectangular, maxi dress, and the baati referring to the... you guessed it, the fabric. The fabric term baati is an umbrella term for soft-on-skin, opaque and breathable fabric that can be made from a variety of materials. From synesthetic fabric such as polyester, semi-synthetic, e.g. woven rayon or cotton blends. The cost of the baati depends on the type and quality of the fabric used. Currently, the most widespread baati fabric is polyester allowing the dress to be cheap and affordable.  

The same baati fabric can be used to create the accompanying garbosaar, the large scarf worn with the baati. It is not uncommon to tailor bedsheets from baati fabric due to how soft and comfortable the feel is. 

So, to simply summarise, if the shape is a dirac and the fabric is a baati, you are looking at the staple Somali dress that is now worn across the globe!