The Hijab Gets A High-Fashion Makeover
The raging political debate about whether hijabs — the headscarves some Muslim women wear as a sign of religious devotion — should be banned or left alone has left one variable out of the equation: fashion. A Belgian design duo called Noor d’Izar has repurposed the hijab, adding stylish form to its historic function.
CNN reports that designer Fatima Rafiy and her partner Inge Rombouts debuted their collection of easy-to-wear hijabs at Paris Fashion Week earlier this year. They caused quite a buzz in the country that has been one of the loudest decriers of the hijab — the French parliament voted to ban the burka in July, and Belgium outlawed the garments in April.
With motivation like that, there’s no wonder that Rafiy and Rombouts (who is not a Muslim) would want to make the statement that a religious covering doesn’t necessarily have to do with politics. There are high-fashion versions of every garment ever stitched, and the fashion community idolizes these bags and pants and ponchos. Even if the duo’s plan didn’t work, it’d still be a whopper of a statement. The recent controversy at Disney, for example, might not have happened at all if our society viewed this garment differently.
But the real beauty is that the statement is working — both inside and outside the Muslim world. The design appeals to non-Muslims, and practicality draws in women who wear hijabs for religious reasons.
“There was a lot of interest from the western world — men and women,” Robouts said. “One man who rides a motorbike bought our leather design to wear over his helmet.”
Since the launch of their company in 2009, orders from non-Muslims have been steadily rising. Their designs combine the practical and the stylish.
Many of the headscarves are made of T-shirt-style material and have built-in headbands. They don’t require fiddly pins or elaborate wrapping, meaning they can be put on or taken off in seconds.
“I think the European women that have bought it like the practical side of it,” said Rombouts. “I wear it ’cause it’s just fun.”
While we realize that it will probably be a long time before there will be a non-Muslim market for couture hijabs, it’s encouraging to see how may early adopters there have been. About 10 percent of Noor D’Izar’s orders are from non-Muslims, and Rombouts expects that number will grow with each collection.
[Via CNN]
[Image via Noor D'Izar]
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