Young Muslim women driving a modest fashion revolution

Nisaa FM:-  Over the past few years, “modest wear” has become the newest trend on the block to diversify the face of contemporary fashion. The term “modest fashion” often comes with a stigma, as it is usually associated with oppression and Muslim women dressed head to toe in black garbs. But the industry is quickly growing. 

So how is it that this industry has come to cause such a stir? Abu Bakr says social media is responsible: “A lot of young people use social media, and that has been the cause of the push for this fashion revolution, just like we saw with the Arab spring. Now we’re seeing that change in fashion.” The international fashion scene might not be comparable to Tahrir Square, but it is clear that the industry has been heavily influenced by emerging modest fashion bloggers such as Dina Tokia and Ascia Akf.

Fashion designer Aheda Zanetti explains; modest wear is being introduced to add variety to the fashion industry and doesn’t just mean the introduction of hijabs and burkinis – it also means clothing that offers more coverage for a wide range of women from different cultures and religions. Fashion should be an inclusive and empowering form of self-expression, available to everybody. Modesty is not to be forced on anyone and means different things to different people, but always remains a choice for women. Modest fashion has not only bridged the gap between Eastern and Western fashion culture but also created far more diversity within the fashion industry itself.

Mariah Idrissi has for many become the face of the modest fashion revolution. She is the first hijab-wearing model to be signed to one of the top 10 global modeling agencies – Select Models. She was also the first model to wear a hijab in a major fashion campaign, when she featured in H&M’s Close the Loop campaign last year. “I don’t feel there should be a distinction between modest fashion and modern fashion as modesty is religionless. Modesty is a personal choice the same way you would choose flats over heels or vice versa.” states Mariah Idrissi.

Source: vanityfair theguardian