the problem with modest fashion

And the company is finding customers in unexpected places. Well - up to a point. Brands need to embed this acceptance into their brand ethos, to tackle the problem NOT just provide a small collection of garments, and think thats enough. It draws attention to a womans body and the way she looks, rather than who she is as a person. Many times Ive worried I am being a nuisance and the brand may not want to work with me again. popsugar The mainstream continue to look at them like figureheads for that community, she says, but they may not represent that any more. She says the popularity of the commercially friendly hijabi streetstyle has a ripple effect if others are adjusting their hijab my way of dressing may have started to feel more extreme. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. During the colonial period, the wives of French army officers presided over the public unveiling of Algerian women. Victim-blaming women who are having to live like this does the opposite of catalyse progress. Modest fashion has been a defining style for the past decade. This shift has, according to Hussain, left those adopting a less commercial look behind. So how does the business differentiate itself? At the same time, every person has their own idea of what modesty means to them, which runs alongside personal preferences and style choices. She contrasted these images with photographs wearing coverings she was comfortable in, which covered her ears, neck, shoulders and chest. The low-cost fashion retailer said its collection was designed for those who want to be more covered, with pieces featuring longer sleeves, higher necklines, and lower hems. In two photos, West wears a balaclava with only his eyes visible. Studies show that theres a growing appetite among non-Muslims or those without religious affiliation for modest wear, be it in Muslim majority countries like Malaysia or Saudia Arabia, or within Western countries. Beginning 3rd year of my bachelor degree in Fashion Communication and Promotion at Nottingham Trent University, I have decided to base my research report/dissertation on Modest Fashion; after seeing this trend rising globally and its market developing & expanding. Although high-street brands are beginning to tap into this clothing style and its consumer market, it doesnt feel authentic; rather communicating to this consumer group, they are completing this to tick a box, and sell! Perhaps we are expecting too much from an industry that is as obtuse in properly acknowledging its role in the promotion of Eurocentric beauty standards, the use of sweatshops and the contribution it has made in harming the environment. That trend took place over a certain period of time. bellatory Grammy-winning singer Billie Eilish is famous for wearing baggy clothing from head to toe, and when quizzed about why she dresses that way, talked about the oversexualisation of young women in the public eye. An award winning media company committed to sharing the perspectives of people of colour from marginalised genders. Given those numbers, it would be tempting to assume that the ever-nimble fashion industry is already fully addressing this burgeoning demand. Is it time to rip off the modest and just call it fashion? trendsetter haredi failedmessiah Many women just want to go through their day without dealing with hearing a thousand things from a thousand people. Modest fashion has developed into retailers including the likes of Primark, PLT and Uniqlo, also with high-end brands such as Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana, but what are they doing wrong? For instance, in the Orthodox Jewish world, tzniut (Hebrew) or tznius (Yiddish)governs the guidelines for modesty while Rasta women are also expected to cover their hair and dress in loose clothing. For those who (like me) wondered what is modest fashion?, the concept seems to boil down to a more covered look longer sleeves, longer hemlines, no cleavage. The day people stop staring at a girl in shorts, the day nobody asks What was she wearing? when a woman speaks up about sexual harassment, that day we can talk about women opting for modest fashion being a problem. shopping2fashion Zargarpur was among those who helped coin the term modest fashion when it was emerging as a distinct category, insisting that it was more inclusive than Islamic fashion. For as long as I can remember, the media has portrayed women in hijab as oppressed. I cannot imagine that I am the only Muslim woman who is exhausted by the barrage of anti-Muslim hatred that we have seen in the past few days, particularly on the issue of the hijab. For instance, Modest clothing has already made something of a splash at events such as London fashion week, but that represents just a subset of the market. uncomfortable shouldn committing Have you ever worn a low-cut top in the metro and not had aunties and uncles stare at your cleavage? uncomfortable shouldn committing Granted, that doesnt always work, because modestly-dressed or not, sexism never evades us. Suppose youre from a conservative family, or live in a place where wearing shorts or bralettes is not a common practice. Citing Aden as a prime example of an employee presenting a greater need for religious fashion literacy. It is very difficult to find modest clothes that are fashionable and also cover your body. Irish retailer Primarks recent launch of an autumn/winter modest collection sparked mixed reactions on social media. But what about the ethics? On-trend fashion and the principle of modesty - as adhered to by a great many Muslim women - dont always sit well together. Having decided to start a modest retail brand, she visited China to discuss manufacturing and found there was very little awareness of the fashion requirements of Muslim women. popsugar The model Mariah Idrissi shot to fame in a campaign for the high-street chain H&M in 2015 in which she wore a printed headscarf (which looks very similar to a traditional keffiyeh) and a loose salmon-pink coat over a monochrome ensemble. The difference is often significant in the workplace a long day at work is hard enough, let alone doing it in a tight clothing and high heels that restrict your movement and make you feel quite uncomfortable by the end of the workday. With Western retailers, its a marketing ploy thats quite effective for reaching their target demographic, especially when the faces of these ranges are real Muslim women from the communities theyre targeting, as opposed to regular models with hijabs stuck onto them just for show. Irish retailer Primarks recent launch of an autumn/winter modest collection sparked mixed reactions on social media. Until then, as Adens story has shown, the space that fashion has created so far for the hijab has been one in its own image: confined, reductive and limited. Billie then talked about the negative impact of such scrutiny, and mentioned that she dresses the way she does because she doesnt want to be sexualised. It is impossible to generalize Muslim womens dressing preferences because they are not a homogenous demographic. https://t.co/zvzJJeD5V7. My sisters and friends who are Muslim don't have the same luxury; they are having to shop between 6-8 retailers to find suitable attire that can be deemed modest. Isnt modest fashion encouraging the idea that womens bodies need to be covered up (whether because our bodies are shameful or because our bodies will encourage men to think lewd thoughts or some other sexist notion)? Dolce & Gabbana now sells abayas, the article says, Nike stocks hijabs for athletes. A post shared by Sherri Hill (@sherrihill). Her plans reflect confidence that this is still a largely untapped market. The photo and the caption combined is a unique example of co-option within the context of France, as issues of appropriation are commonly discussed within the context of race and cultural heritage in countries like the United Kingdom and the United States. High-end and high-street brands have jumped on the modest fashion bandwagon, releasing dedicated modest fashion collections that target Muslim spending power, Lodi told Salaam Gateway. I mean where do I start? The designers were really coming from a high-end or traditional perspective. There is also the ongoing issue that Modest Dressing is seen as something only available/worn by Muslim consumers, women who cover up due to their religious values and beliefs, but this is simply not the truth,we dont define it (modest fashion) because it is such a wide spectrum Ghizian Guenez (founder of The Modest). She points out that many successful modest influencers have started dressing in an increasingly westernised way in recent years, which to her, gives the mainstream fashion industry the impression that these successful, high-profile women reflect the way all fashionable Muslim women may want to dress. Such design issues will be addressed by global fashion brands as more discussions take place and as more influencers raise awareness of Muslim womens dressing preferences, according to Dr. El Mutwalli. Thats why we see the term being used so extensively and maybe overused to a certain extent, said Dr. El Mutwalli. shop2u From the protests following a hijab ban in schools in Indias Karnataka Udupi district and a proposed hijab ban for Germanys public sector, Muslim women who have come of age in the post 9/11 world will tell you that the demonisation of the hijab and the niqab are just one of the many forms of Islamophobia the community has long endured especially in Western European countries like France. While these were largely celebrated by Muslim women around 2016-2017, seemingly marking an attitude of inclusivity, diversity and religious tolerance by fashion brands in the West, now, in 2020, many Muslim women feel that weve progressed beyond this stage, and that the word modest is no longer needed as a descriptor for these collections.. Fighting that off takes a toll. All the while seeing fashion headscarves in places where the right for Muslim women to wear their hijabs are taken away. Perhaps the real problem with modest dressing is the label itself. Modest fashion is a big business and there are major opportunities for brands and retailers to tap into this growing demographic. My family was also religious and fairly conservative. Why is there this need to separate modest clothes from normal clothes??? We just passed the novelty phase. wonky unflattering seams Muslim women need and deserve their own segment in fashion and without it, mainstream brands would not put the attention to detail of collections being longer and looser, she added. Modesty has been a big buzzword within the fashion industry. But two months ago, Aden announced that she was quitting the fashion industry because she felt the work had compromised her religious beliefs particularly those concerning the hijab. Turkey's first Modanisa Istanbul Modest Fashion Week in May, 2016. The low-cost fashion retailer said its collection was desig.. Events This is something Rashmee Kumar argues in an article for The Intercept. Robots And Machines Making Work Inclusive, 4 Tips That Will Help You Become More Persuasive, How This Propolis-Centric Business Is Growing While Helping The Bees, Ukraine Startup Translates Videos For Zelensky, While Adjusting To Work In A War Zone, Hit A Business Growth Plateau? A well known fashion brand announcing a modest collection feels so dated to me now Its smart to keep that segment as a proper category. ).It comes amid a trend of more modest fashion choices that the Guardian speculatively describes as the the great cover up. For outsiders looking in, the nature of the demand might be considered difficult to pin down. poppy modest So in September of this year, Modestwist launched as a global business, promoting itself via social channels and influencers and Pinterest. We still need to get to interest and adoption not an easy task, he said in a separate interview. Islamic dress, however, remains a lightning rod for controversy. Everyone was talking about it, says influencer Sebina Hussain, an influencer also known online as Sebinaah, who works with brands including Viktor & Rolf and Swarovski. Create account for free and enjoy unlimited access to exclusive However, there is another reason why feminist women choose to dress modestly, and it has nothing to do with practicality and everything to do with how women are treated/perceived in the world. A number of Muslim women would prefer modesty be seamlessly integrated into the main seasonal collections of fashion brands, as separating them and labelling them as modest may set them apart from mainstream fashion and further alienate Muslim women, said Hafsa Lodi, a Dubai-based American journalist who has been covering fashion in the Middle East for the last decade. These are often tech-savvy women who are searching for clothes that cater to their unique trends. Just ask anyone who needs to bend over a lot during the day! India's largest women's lifestyle network. The clothes on these websites are gorgeous defying any stereotype your mind conjured up when you heard the term modest fashion. The launch got the business noticed. In todays more progressive fashion industry, modest fashion should exist and sit alongside the rest of the fashion categories. Most Muslim women shop from the regular sections of mainstream stores and are simply savvy with their styling they dont require detached modest wear ranges while shopping, she said. This shift has also seen the headscarf become increasingly acceptable, even covetable, in western fashion, with Nike, Uniqlo, Liberty, Tommy Hilfiger and Dolce & Gabbana among the brands selling scarves overtly tailored for use as hijabs in recent years. Halimas words caused a huge ripple in our community. There will always be a need in the fashion market for modest consumers, but it is not widely accepted in society: cultural appropriation, racism, islamophobia, politics, judgement, all reasons why there is an underlining hatred to these consumers. Reach thousands of Islamic economy businesses and professionals. A post shared by Vogue France (@voguefrance). Is it time we drop the modest and just call it fashion? Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. daughter According to the Pew Research Institute, the Muslim population is set to grow from a current level of 1.6 billion to 2.8 billion in 2050. poppy modest Perhaps thats not surprising. Ahwa refers to designers Emilia Wickstead and Tory Burch, and online shopping sites such as The Modist. While some expressed how much they love the new line, others asked why there was a need to separate it from other collections. But even in the West, celebrities like Billie Eilish are promoting the idea of modest fashion. Modesty -as promoted by a number of fashion influencers - became something that was of interest not just to Muslims but to a broader audience of women.

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