Qur'an Studies: Surah An-Naas
7 years ago
Monday, November 23, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Modesty blazes a fashion trail
Modesty blazes a fashion trail
By: Terry Ramsey
Last Updated: August 01. 2009 1:23AM UAE / July 31. 2009 9:23PM GMT
Sarah Elanany, a London-based designer, has created a range of contemporary clothing that sticks to Islamic rules. Ian Jones for The National
LONDON // Meeting Sarah Elenany is a striking experience. Not just because she is petite, friendly and brimming with life – although she is. Not because she dresses according to the Islamic rules – in Britain these days that it is unexceptional. What makes her stand out is the way she takes the dress code and turns it into something young, edgy and cool.
Of course, the rules are obeyed: she is covered, apart from her hands and face, and nothing is fitted or revealing. But at the same time, she looks more modern than any girl in tight jeans and a cropped T-shirt.
That’s because Elenany is a designer spearheading a bold new fashion: mixing the Islamic dress code with smart, urban streetwear.
“I know it’s a big statement, but my brand is the first of its kind. There isn’t anything else like it out there at the moment,” she says.
Her recently launched line includes hoodie dresses with dramatic graphics based on Islam, chic baggy trousers and a stylish raincoat that comes with built-in protection for the traditional headscarf.
Although it is Islamic fashion, the aim is to create an edgy, young style for any woman. “In the back of my mind I always wanted to make it appeal to a non-Muslim market as well, for the sake of making it available to more people and also in terms of making it normal fashion.”
The idea is that Muslims will spot the cultural references, while non-Muslims will see fashions they want to wear.
“My sales have proved that non-Muslims are buying the designs,” she says. “So, it’s a niche product but with a mainstream element.”
At 25, she’s no newcomer to clothes-making. “I started making my own from about the age of 16 because there was nothing I liked that covered me up properly and had street cred.”
She became increasingly frustrated with trying to be fashionable and stick to the Islamic code.
“There have been so many times when I have gone out to buy something and I haven’t been able to, because there was nothing that ticked all the boxes. I’d find a dress and think ‘Oh, great!’ and then put it on and discover it came in under the bust too tightly or the sleeves were only three-quarter length, which means I’d have to wear something underneath it.”
She saw other young Muslim women having the same problem. So, after completing a bachelor’s degree in engineering product design and embarking on a master’s in enterprise, both at South London University, she decided the answer was to launch her own brand of street-cred Islamic clothes.
Called Elenany (pronounced Ellen-arny), the company has a tiny office in the unfashionable Elephant and Castle area of London. It launched earlier this summer with nine items, all self-designed. However, Elenany says she is not a fashion designer but a product designer – creating items aimed at a gap in the market.
Before making the clothes she carefully researched her target audience. “We asked them what their style was – feminine, conservative, street or whatever. We asked what kind of things they actually wear. And what they would like to wear.
“Half said they wore streetwear and half said they wore ‘pretty’ clothing. I knew I was happier designing streetwear, so I went with that. I also found out what colours they liked: 80 per cent said dark colours with a bit of brightness. Which was great because black and white is my favourite colour combination, so I used that.”
At the heart of her brand are the graphics that appear on her logo, dresses and jacket linings.
“I tried to think of the things that are relevant to me as a Muslim. So there is one design which is like this [she holds her hands out, palms facing upwards]. It’s dua, and every Muslim knows that. I didn’t want to use traditional Islamic art, which is really beautiful but doesn’t speak to me. I wanted to use graphics to capture the spirit of being a young Muslim. And I wanted people to look at the clothes and get it. And Muslims do – they say ‘Oh look, that’s dua’.”
Another design (and her logo) uses a hand with one finger raised, the sign of shahada, the Muslim declaration of the oneness of God. “But because it also looks like the number one, it is relevant to both markets.”
Elenany admits that when she was growing up, Islamic faith did not play a large part in her life. She is British, with a Palestinian mother and Egyptian father, and the family went to the mosque only for important occasions. Things changed when she was a teenager. “Life happens and you start thinking. First my brother started practising, then my parents followed and so did I. And I did Hajj when I was 19.”
The family home is in Mitcham, Surrey, just south of London, which is where Elenany has her “design studio” in the garage. Although she is as British as they come, selling the idea of an Islamic brand in the UK has proved difficult.
“I have a lot of negative feedback from buyers on the Islamic brand. They look at the designs and I start explaining the story and their faces just drop. In fact, one major High Street chain said it might offend people.
“But I have been told the products are great. So for my next collection I am thinking of keeping everything exactly the same – just not saying anything about Islam. So I am not alienating anyone.
“Now, I have had feedback – like ‘make it a bit more feminine’. So my next collection is still streetwear, but it is more feminine.”
It will be bigger, with 15 pieces for women and two for men.
“I am naming future collections according to the theme of the graphics. The next one is called The Friday Collection. It includes a graphic called Brotherhood, which looks like lots of people praying next to each other. And there’s one called Salaam, which is what people do at Friday prayers. And there’s one with a minaret repeat pattern.”
Although she has had orders from the US, Canada and France as well as the UK, Elenany accepts her clothes are not suitable for all markets – and may not appeal to women in the Gulf, where the full-length abaya is popular.
“My brand is very British. I think they have a different style to Britain and the style might not be right for them.
“I am just trying to provide a choice for people. If people want to wear traditional abaya, then that’s cool. I have seen some of the girls wear it and they look stunning in their abaya. But if they want things that are a bit younger, then my clothes will cover them up so they feel comfortable and be something that’s not traditional.”
Even though, for her new collection, Elenany is listening to feedback, there’s one thing she definitely isn’t changing: her pride in being young and Muslim.
“One design looks a bit like Glastonbury, but it also looks a bit like Muslims at a demo,” she says. “And I know a demo is a bit controversial but I wanted to capture the spirit of Muslim youth.
“I didn’t want to apologise, because I think Muslims in Britain today feel they have to keep apologising because other Muslims do bad stuff. But I wanted it to be a celebration. To say, yes, we’re angsty – but really it’s all right.”
* The National
By: Terry Ramsey
Last Updated: August 01. 2009 1:23AM UAE / July 31. 2009 9:23PM GMT
Sarah Elanany, a London-based designer, has created a range of contemporary clothing that sticks to Islamic rules. Ian Jones for The National
LONDON // Meeting Sarah Elenany is a striking experience. Not just because she is petite, friendly and brimming with life – although she is. Not because she dresses according to the Islamic rules – in Britain these days that it is unexceptional. What makes her stand out is the way she takes the dress code and turns it into something young, edgy and cool.
Of course, the rules are obeyed: she is covered, apart from her hands and face, and nothing is fitted or revealing. But at the same time, she looks more modern than any girl in tight jeans and a cropped T-shirt.
That’s because Elenany is a designer spearheading a bold new fashion: mixing the Islamic dress code with smart, urban streetwear.
“I know it’s a big statement, but my brand is the first of its kind. There isn’t anything else like it out there at the moment,” she says.
Her recently launched line includes hoodie dresses with dramatic graphics based on Islam, chic baggy trousers and a stylish raincoat that comes with built-in protection for the traditional headscarf.
Although it is Islamic fashion, the aim is to create an edgy, young style for any woman. “In the back of my mind I always wanted to make it appeal to a non-Muslim market as well, for the sake of making it available to more people and also in terms of making it normal fashion.”
The idea is that Muslims will spot the cultural references, while non-Muslims will see fashions they want to wear.
“My sales have proved that non-Muslims are buying the designs,” she says. “So, it’s a niche product but with a mainstream element.”
At 25, she’s no newcomer to clothes-making. “I started making my own from about the age of 16 because there was nothing I liked that covered me up properly and had street cred.”
She became increasingly frustrated with trying to be fashionable and stick to the Islamic code.
“There have been so many times when I have gone out to buy something and I haven’t been able to, because there was nothing that ticked all the boxes. I’d find a dress and think ‘Oh, great!’ and then put it on and discover it came in under the bust too tightly or the sleeves were only three-quarter length, which means I’d have to wear something underneath it.”
She saw other young Muslim women having the same problem. So, after completing a bachelor’s degree in engineering product design and embarking on a master’s in enterprise, both at South London University, she decided the answer was to launch her own brand of street-cred Islamic clothes.
Called Elenany (pronounced Ellen-arny), the company has a tiny office in the unfashionable Elephant and Castle area of London. It launched earlier this summer with nine items, all self-designed. However, Elenany says she is not a fashion designer but a product designer – creating items aimed at a gap in the market.
Before making the clothes she carefully researched her target audience. “We asked them what their style was – feminine, conservative, street or whatever. We asked what kind of things they actually wear. And what they would like to wear.
“Half said they wore streetwear and half said they wore ‘pretty’ clothing. I knew I was happier designing streetwear, so I went with that. I also found out what colours they liked: 80 per cent said dark colours with a bit of brightness. Which was great because black and white is my favourite colour combination, so I used that.”
At the heart of her brand are the graphics that appear on her logo, dresses and jacket linings.
“I tried to think of the things that are relevant to me as a Muslim. So there is one design which is like this [she holds her hands out, palms facing upwards]. It’s dua, and every Muslim knows that. I didn’t want to use traditional Islamic art, which is really beautiful but doesn’t speak to me. I wanted to use graphics to capture the spirit of being a young Muslim. And I wanted people to look at the clothes and get it. And Muslims do – they say ‘Oh look, that’s dua’.”
Another design (and her logo) uses a hand with one finger raised, the sign of shahada, the Muslim declaration of the oneness of God. “But because it also looks like the number one, it is relevant to both markets.”
Elenany admits that when she was growing up, Islamic faith did not play a large part in her life. She is British, with a Palestinian mother and Egyptian father, and the family went to the mosque only for important occasions. Things changed when she was a teenager. “Life happens and you start thinking. First my brother started practising, then my parents followed and so did I. And I did Hajj when I was 19.”
The family home is in Mitcham, Surrey, just south of London, which is where Elenany has her “design studio” in the garage. Although she is as British as they come, selling the idea of an Islamic brand in the UK has proved difficult.
“I have a lot of negative feedback from buyers on the Islamic brand. They look at the designs and I start explaining the story and their faces just drop. In fact, one major High Street chain said it might offend people.
“But I have been told the products are great. So for my next collection I am thinking of keeping everything exactly the same – just not saying anything about Islam. So I am not alienating anyone.
“Now, I have had feedback – like ‘make it a bit more feminine’. So my next collection is still streetwear, but it is more feminine.”
It will be bigger, with 15 pieces for women and two for men.
“I am naming future collections according to the theme of the graphics. The next one is called The Friday Collection. It includes a graphic called Brotherhood, which looks like lots of people praying next to each other. And there’s one called Salaam, which is what people do at Friday prayers. And there’s one with a minaret repeat pattern.”
Although she has had orders from the US, Canada and France as well as the UK, Elenany accepts her clothes are not suitable for all markets – and may not appeal to women in the Gulf, where the full-length abaya is popular.
“My brand is very British. I think they have a different style to Britain and the style might not be right for them.
“I am just trying to provide a choice for people. If people want to wear traditional abaya, then that’s cool. I have seen some of the girls wear it and they look stunning in their abaya. But if they want things that are a bit younger, then my clothes will cover them up so they feel comfortable and be something that’s not traditional.”
Even though, for her new collection, Elenany is listening to feedback, there’s one thing she definitely isn’t changing: her pride in being young and Muslim.
“One design looks a bit like Glastonbury, but it also looks a bit like Muslims at a demo,” she says. “And I know a demo is a bit controversial but I wanted to capture the spirit of Muslim youth.
“I didn’t want to apologise, because I think Muslims in Britain today feel they have to keep apologising because other Muslims do bad stuff. But I wanted it to be a celebration. To say, yes, we’re angsty – but really it’s all right.”
* The National
Friday, August 7, 2009
Henna .. Where to buy it and some designs
If your looking for some place to buy henna for cheap ... go to this website
1 . http://www.shopbeachcombers.com/storefrontprofiles/DeluxeSFItemDetail.aspx?sid=1&sfid=39600&c=621032&i=25855536
and heres another website:
http://www.amazon.com/Instant-MEHNDI-HENNA-Tattoo-BodyArt/dp/B000SSSN3U
and also if u want some designs , here are some posted:
SOMETHIN IS UP WITH MY BLOG, SO IF U CANT SEE THE WHOLE PICTURE OF THE HENNA PICS , THEN CLICK ON THEM AND U WILL GET A BIG PICUTRE INSHaLLAH :) OK
1.
2.
And here are some simple deisgns :D
ENJOY!!!
1 . http://www.shopbeachcombers.com/storefrontprofiles/DeluxeSFItemDetail.aspx?sid=1&sfid=39600&c=621032&i=25855536
and heres another website:
http://www.amazon.com/Instant-MEHNDI-HENNA-Tattoo-BodyArt/dp/B000SSSN3U
and also if u want some designs , here are some posted:
SOMETHIN IS UP WITH MY BLOG, SO IF U CANT SEE THE WHOLE PICTURE OF THE HENNA PICS , THEN CLICK ON THEM AND U WILL GET A BIG PICUTRE INSHaLLAH :) OK
1.
2.
And here are some simple deisgns :D
ENJOY!!!
New Magazine in Vogue for American Muslim Girls
New Magazine in Vogue for American Muslim Girls
Posted on: Thursday, 3 May 2007, 06:00 CDT
The glossy pages of most teen mags feature articles on dating, celebrities' jaunts to and from rehab, and the latest miniskirt trend _ topics of little relevance to girls who grow up practicing Islam, which frowns upon such things.
But inside Muslim Girl magazine, which premiered its first issue this year, readers will not find "Guys: Decode His IMs" or "585 Sexy New Looks." Rather, the magazine offers a profile of a professional woman (Mishal Hussain, a BBC broadcast journalist), a fashion spread in which models sport cute-yet-conservative clothes, and advice on dealing with crushes in a culture that looks down on dating.
Started by Ausma Khan, a former lawyer who taught international human rights law at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., Muslim Girl is aimed at 12- to 19-year-olds.
"I wanted to provide girls with an alternative to Cosmo Girl! and Seventeen, where they would see fun stories about popular culture but ... also provide guidance and information to boost their self-esteem, develop their self-confidence," said Khan, who lives in Evanston. "We wanted to tell the stories of real American Muslims."
Muslim Girl joins a growing number of publications _ on and offline _ catering to contemporary Muslims living in the United States. The comedy Web site Islamica News, for instance, pokes fun with satirical articles such as "Santa Myth Exposed: Muslim 2nd Grader Ruins Christmas for Entire Class."
The new publication also demonstrates how women are increasingly asserting themselves as Muslim Americans. A feature on the magazine's Web site asks girls, "What's going on in your mosque? Is it girl-friendly?" _ a potentially provocative question given that the topic of men and women sharing prayer space continues to be controversial.
In fact, one of the magazine's biggest challenges will be appealing to a diverse population. For example, not all young women in the magazine wear the hijab, or headscarf, which could be objectionable to some Muslims.
"We make an internal motto to be as inclusive as possible," Khan said. "The North American Muslim community is actually incredibly diverse, in terms of how they practice their religion. We work hard to represent girls from all these different backgrounds."
While in another country such a broad approach probably wouldn't work, the magazine is likely to thrive amid the cultural diversity and openness of American culture, said Mamoon Syed, executive director of the Nawawi Foundation, a nonprofit education organization based in Burr Ridge, Ill., that provides Islamic teachings to first- and second-generation Muslim Americans.
"If there's anywhere in the world where you have the opportunity to be able to agree to disagree, it's the United States," Syed said. "As they say, `I may not agree with your voice, but I'll defend your right to say it.' You can't do that in a lot of other Muslim countries."
Muslim Girl follows in the footsteps of the Atlanta-based Azizah magazine, founded in 2002 and aimed at contemporary Muslim women. The publisher and editor-in-chief of that magazine, Tayyibah Taylor, said Muslim Girl could fill a significant void for younger Muslims.
"Being a person who is not of the dominant culture has an effect on people who are absent in the mainstream media or have negative portrayals of themselves," Taylor said. "It's a very subtle but very powerful process by which you internalize a sense of, `Oh something's wrong.' Having your own media and being able to see a positive reflection of oneself is a very empowering thing."
The development of media directed at Muslim women is evidence of the group's growing influence in American society, said Taylor, whose magazine has a circulation of about 45,000. Muslim Girl currently claims a circulation of 50,000 and is hoping to double that number within the next few years.
While Khan and her editorial team initially envisioned the magazine for younger teens, "what we found is that college-age girls are really interested in the magazine," she said. "The issues we cover actually have a broad appeal."
Aneesa Arshad, 21, a junior at Northwestern University, said she has heard of the new publication and was excited that it focused on career and life goals rather than the latest Nicole Richie/Paris Hilton feud.
"Those are definitely the articles that I would want to read," Arshad said of the career features in Muslim Girl. "As I'm looking at what career decisions I want to make, those definitely relate to where I am in life right now, more than an article about a celebrity."
Muslim Girl doesn't ignore fashion, but the styles are conservative, unlike the short-short, midriff-baring looks flaunted in Seventeen. It's an aspect of the new magazine that Aamna Anwer, 19, said she found appealing.
Anwer, who was raised in Galesburg, Ill., and now attends Northwestern, said she used to subscribe to Allure and Vogue and loves fashion but couldn't always wear the clothes she saw on the models.
"It would be convenient if sometimes when we were looking through a fashion magazine, there would be more that would be available to Muslim women, or women who were more modest," said Anwer, whose parents were born in Pakistan.
For Khan and Taylor, one final goal in promoting Muslim media is to change the perceptions of Muslims in the United States.
"Oftentimes, because Islam and Muslims are reported on in the Middle East and politics, there is an association with terrorism and bombings," Taylor said. "It is painful to watch that and see that that's the definition of Muslims in the world. Creating our own media allows us the opportunity to say, this is who we are, this is what we've done, from our frame of reference."
Source: Chicago Tribune
Posted on: Thursday, 3 May 2007, 06:00 CDT
The glossy pages of most teen mags feature articles on dating, celebrities' jaunts to and from rehab, and the latest miniskirt trend _ topics of little relevance to girls who grow up practicing Islam, which frowns upon such things.
But inside Muslim Girl magazine, which premiered its first issue this year, readers will not find "Guys: Decode His IMs" or "585 Sexy New Looks." Rather, the magazine offers a profile of a professional woman (Mishal Hussain, a BBC broadcast journalist), a fashion spread in which models sport cute-yet-conservative clothes, and advice on dealing with crushes in a culture that looks down on dating.
Started by Ausma Khan, a former lawyer who taught international human rights law at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., Muslim Girl is aimed at 12- to 19-year-olds.
"I wanted to provide girls with an alternative to Cosmo Girl! and Seventeen, where they would see fun stories about popular culture but ... also provide guidance and information to boost their self-esteem, develop their self-confidence," said Khan, who lives in Evanston. "We wanted to tell the stories of real American Muslims."
Muslim Girl joins a growing number of publications _ on and offline _ catering to contemporary Muslims living in the United States. The comedy Web site Islamica News, for instance, pokes fun with satirical articles such as "Santa Myth Exposed: Muslim 2nd Grader Ruins Christmas for Entire Class."
The new publication also demonstrates how women are increasingly asserting themselves as Muslim Americans. A feature on the magazine's Web site asks girls, "What's going on in your mosque? Is it girl-friendly?" _ a potentially provocative question given that the topic of men and women sharing prayer space continues to be controversial.
In fact, one of the magazine's biggest challenges will be appealing to a diverse population. For example, not all young women in the magazine wear the hijab, or headscarf, which could be objectionable to some Muslims.
"We make an internal motto to be as inclusive as possible," Khan said. "The North American Muslim community is actually incredibly diverse, in terms of how they practice their religion. We work hard to represent girls from all these different backgrounds."
While in another country such a broad approach probably wouldn't work, the magazine is likely to thrive amid the cultural diversity and openness of American culture, said Mamoon Syed, executive director of the Nawawi Foundation, a nonprofit education organization based in Burr Ridge, Ill., that provides Islamic teachings to first- and second-generation Muslim Americans.
"If there's anywhere in the world where you have the opportunity to be able to agree to disagree, it's the United States," Syed said. "As they say, `I may not agree with your voice, but I'll defend your right to say it.' You can't do that in a lot of other Muslim countries."
Muslim Girl follows in the footsteps of the Atlanta-based Azizah magazine, founded in 2002 and aimed at contemporary Muslim women. The publisher and editor-in-chief of that magazine, Tayyibah Taylor, said Muslim Girl could fill a significant void for younger Muslims.
"Being a person who is not of the dominant culture has an effect on people who are absent in the mainstream media or have negative portrayals of themselves," Taylor said. "It's a very subtle but very powerful process by which you internalize a sense of, `Oh something's wrong.' Having your own media and being able to see a positive reflection of oneself is a very empowering thing."
The development of media directed at Muslim women is evidence of the group's growing influence in American society, said Taylor, whose magazine has a circulation of about 45,000. Muslim Girl currently claims a circulation of 50,000 and is hoping to double that number within the next few years.
While Khan and her editorial team initially envisioned the magazine for younger teens, "what we found is that college-age girls are really interested in the magazine," she said. "The issues we cover actually have a broad appeal."
Aneesa Arshad, 21, a junior at Northwestern University, said she has heard of the new publication and was excited that it focused on career and life goals rather than the latest Nicole Richie/Paris Hilton feud.
"Those are definitely the articles that I would want to read," Arshad said of the career features in Muslim Girl. "As I'm looking at what career decisions I want to make, those definitely relate to where I am in life right now, more than an article about a celebrity."
Muslim Girl doesn't ignore fashion, but the styles are conservative, unlike the short-short, midriff-baring looks flaunted in Seventeen. It's an aspect of the new magazine that Aamna Anwer, 19, said she found appealing.
Anwer, who was raised in Galesburg, Ill., and now attends Northwestern, said she used to subscribe to Allure and Vogue and loves fashion but couldn't always wear the clothes she saw on the models.
"It would be convenient if sometimes when we were looking through a fashion magazine, there would be more that would be available to Muslim women, or women who were more modest," said Anwer, whose parents were born in Pakistan.
For Khan and Taylor, one final goal in promoting Muslim media is to change the perceptions of Muslims in the United States.
"Oftentimes, because Islam and Muslims are reported on in the Middle East and politics, there is an association with terrorism and bombings," Taylor said. "It is painful to watch that and see that that's the definition of Muslims in the world. Creating our own media allows us the opportunity to say, this is who we are, this is what we've done, from our frame of reference."
Source: Chicago Tribune
Friday, July 31, 2009
Look At how reese witherspoons dress is soo modest! MashAllah
Look At how reese witherspoons dress is soo modest! but yet the muslims these days are not wearing modest clothes! just take some of the celebs outfits if u want to fit in, even u dont have to fit in! omg .. Allah just wants us to be modest!~ .... but u can be modest and stylish at the same time! Wallahi anjad, its soo cool! just take a look at my blog! .. i have some outfits i put together i wear them all the time! Subhanallah ... i even asked my mom if i could start wearing an abaya! <3 so thats what i have been doing sometimes!
The PUNK Look <3 =)
The PUNK Look <3 =)
Anyways, u can wear a long sleeve shirt underneath the short sleeved shirt, i would advise the color white long sleeved shirt ;)
THE OUTFIT :
1. The Elsie Wrap Hijab - $12 - artizara.com
2. Tiered Crinkle Maxi Skirt - $38 - ardenb.com
3. Skyla multi buff check shirt - $40 - delias.com
4. dELiAs Converse Ox - $46 - delias.com
5. Blue and Pink Wooden Teardrop Earrings - $3 - amocacushi.ecrater.com
6. Coach :: Poppy Patent - $368 - coach.com
7. Turquoise Bead Bracelet with Diamond Piece - brownsfashion.com
I LOVE THIS OUTFIT!! OMG!!
Anyways, u can wear a long sleeve shirt underneath the short sleeved shirt, i would advise the color white long sleeved shirt ;)
THE OUTFIT :
1. The Elsie Wrap Hijab - $12 - artizara.com
2. Tiered Crinkle Maxi Skirt - $38 - ardenb.com
3. Skyla multi buff check shirt - $40 - delias.com
4. dELiAs Converse Ox - $46 - delias.com
5. Blue and Pink Wooden Teardrop Earrings - $3 - amocacushi.ecrater.com
6. Coach :: Poppy Patent - $368 - coach.com
7. Turquoise Bead Bracelet with Diamond Piece - brownsfashion.com
I LOVE THIS OUTFIT!! OMG!!
Europe Discovers Muslim Fashion
Europe Discovers Muslim Fashion
IslamOnline.net & News Agencies
PARIS/ROTTERDAM — Reconciling their faith with the dictates of fashion, style-conscious young Muslim women across Europe are leaving their mark on Europe's urban street culture and influencing mainstream fashion.
"H&M and all the French stores have taken our fashion," Mahika, a 24-year-old Muslim from Paris, told Reuters on Wednesday, April 25, referring to the famed Swedish clothing company Hennes & Mauritz.
In a country which fiercely upholds its secular identity and which banned hijab in schools, modest Muslim clothing does not have to be fashion-lacking.
"Popular styles this year have beadwork and the color is orange," said Ouslghozi Jkrom, displaying her store's array of bright colored dresses and hair veils.
A generation of young hijab-clad Muslims has influenced Europe's fashion industry as the runways now discover a trend of mixing long dresses with jeans, and layering sweaters and tops.
"It's not just Muslims who are buying our jeans now," said Susanna Cavalli, chief of product development for the Italian company Al Quds.
With a baggy cut and multiple pockets, the company's new line of jeans was mainly tailored to cater to Muslims who want to stay comfortable while praying.
But Cavalli says Al Quds jeans are becoming popular among non-Muslims too.
"It's a good fashion product, first of all. That means the spectrum of our audience is growing."
Fashion-Conscious
"It's not just Muslims who are buying our jeans now," Cavalli said.
Daughters of migrants to Europe have brought their own culture to urban streets and swayed the mainstream fashion.
They say the trend has made their life in the West much easier as they do not have to struggle to get dressed properly.
"I find it very easy to dress. You find all kinds of things in town," said Bushra Sayed, a 20-year-old Muslim student who lives in Holland's Rotterdam.
"It is about combinations and it has got easier since you see the influence of our fashion in general fashion."
Wearing her dark brown hijab, blue shirt and knee-length skirt over jeans, she believes religion and fashion need to be mutually exclusive.
"I am a Muslim but I am also a person who is interested in fashion and I want to combine all these things."
She is always determined to incorporate brash modernity into her wardrobe while adhering to the tenets of her faith.
"For me it is important to cover my body, except the hands, feet and face. And within that I can wear whatever I want, but it should not be too tight and short.
"My mother, friends, and relatives are very enthusiastic and I did not have to fight at all for my own style."
Bushra is one of five women who put together MSLM, a new glossy fashion magazine for style-conscious young Muslims.
The magazine, launched in April in Dutch, French and English, offers fashion tips for fashion-enthusiast Muslim girls.
The women have also organized a fashion exhibition in Rotterdam alongside the magazine, displaying outfits made by Dutch designers with Islamic dress codes in mind.
One dummy in the exhibition wears a black halter-neck dress, while its back, arms and legs are concealed by a black-lace cat suit worn beneath.
"These girls can't live without Zara, H&M and Mango," said Natasa Heydra, a Rotterdam gallery curator who is among the editorial team of MSLM.
She added that injecting fashion into a traditional Muslim wardrobe does not have to be like walking a fine line.
"There is a basic set of rules and within these rules it is about choice and about modesty."
Hijab Chic
Hijab Chic
How retailers are marketing
to fashion-conscious Muslim women.
By Asra Q. Nomani
"Full coverage," not your typical fashion show prerequisite, was the theme at a "fashion seminar" recently hosted by Nordstrom at the tony Tysons Corner Center mall in McLean, Va. The show, called "Interpreting Hot Trends for Veiled and Conservative Women," was perhaps the first high-fashion hijab event sponsored by corporate America. The target: well-heeled Muslim women living in the suburbs of Northern Virginia, where mansions and mosques are filled with rich Muslim immigrants, an increasing number of whom shop at Tysons Corner.
The Nordstrom show is part of a growing trend: Western retailers and designers are beginning to market directly to Muslim women. In 2000, for instance, European designers Yves Saint-Laurent and Jean-Paul Gaultier showed at the International Festival of African Fashion in Niger while ultraconservative Muslims paraded through the streets in protest of the "satanic" presentation. A 2004 Hermes ad featured two women with the dark hair, dark eyes, and olive skin of many Middle Easterners and wearing the company's iconic scarves wrapped around their heads in the Muslim style of hijab. (When asked, the Hermes advertising department would say only that its marketing pitch is "global.") And a little over a week ago, French designer Judith Duriez, co-owner of the Dubai-based company Arabesque, debuted her fall 2005 collection of "sheilas" (veils) and "abayas" (gowns) for the cloaked Muslim woman. These fashions, traditional long black gowns (the color is one rule Duriez refuses to break), are enhanced by non-traditional accents such as mother-of-pearl trimmings and chiffon ribbons.
Retailers have likely caught on to the fact that conservative Muslim women are as interested in fashion as any other women and that, as a population numbering at least 500 million—an estimated half of which cover up regularly—they constitute a large, and potentially lucrative, untapped market. Indeed, to anyone who's paying attention, it's evident that Muslim women are going to great lengths (and in some cases spending a substantial amount of money) in an attempt to reconcile their religious mandate to dress modestly with their desire to look fashionable. Many women interpret the idea of "hijab"—the term comes from the Arabic word "hajaba," which is translated as "to cover," and is used generally to refer to modesty, and more specifically, to mean headscarves and formless gowns—quite liberally. They wear Diane Von Furstenberg mini-dresses over Levi jeans or rapper-style do-rags as headscarves. Other women don scarves by designers such as Christian Dior, Hermes, Gucci, and Dolce & Gabbana. And even the traditional dress is no longer black and shapeless but comes in various cuts, colors, patterns, and textures: slim-cut, baggy, silk, chiffon, fringed, fur-cuffed, hand-painted, and even embroidered with rhinestones and feathers.
The trend would be just another marketing gimmick, except that the hijab is not merely an article of clothing, but a politically charged symbol. The hijab, as most people know by now, has become emblematic of an ideological and political movement that promotes a puritanical interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia. In this interpretation, it is "haram," or illegal, for a women to reveal her arms, legs, or any bodily curves. In the most conservative circles, revealing the face, ankles, neckline, and hands is also verboten. (The Quran, while calling for modesty, does not mandate that women wear hair scarves or long gowns.)
To attend the fashion seminar, I had to go undercover in more ways than one. Nordstrom's publicity department called the show a "private event" that was closed to the press. When I asked why, I was told the company hadn't "media trained" its sales representatives. What if, God forbid, a Nordstrom saleswoman pitched a gauzy scarf that left a woman's hair visible? I'm a Muslim woman, but I don't cover my hair except when I go into mosques with a hoodie over my head in a look I call "ghetto hijab." So, at the diner across the street, I draped a hot pink scarf from the Tie Rack over my head and covered my body in a flower-patterned Nine West trench coat—more Grace Kelly than hijabi Muslim, but it worked—and prepared to see what Nordstrom thought was in fashion for the veiled-and-shrouded set.
The morning of the event, about 100 women—their hair covered by scarves, their bodies cloaked in abayas or burqas, and at least two of them with their faces fully veiled—pulled into the Tysons Corner parking lot in Volvos, BMWs, and Lexus sedans. In liberal Muslim circles, these women are sometimes derisively called "hijabis." The chicest among them—those who wear silk Hermes scarves and long Barneys jackets—are dubbed "fashionable fundies" (as in "fundamentalists"). The women call themselves "muhajabah," or "women of hijab."
The women and I slid into chairs set up at the top of the store's escalators, a few feet away from a display of slinky Nicole Miller gowns. The Nordstrom sales team was composed mostly of non-Muslim Americans, but there was one Muslim saleswoman with a scarf pulled up high over a bun in her hair. A chipper Nordstrom saleswoman in an appropriately modest business suit opened the show by pointing to a row of mannequins outfitted in what she called "the latest fall trends." There was a full-length Eileen Fisher skirt: "It allows for full coverage," she emphasized. And a black Anne Klein jacket: "It closes up high," the sales lady stressed. Finally, a $425 green-and-black Tesori tweed coat: "Just perfect for your unique style." In other words, it would cover the contour of a woman's butt—another no-no to reveal. The Nordstrom Web site promotes the jacket as a "tailored fit," but that wasn't part of the sales pitch here.
But something was obviously missing. A saleswoman stepped forward: "Of course, we have scarves!" Of course! Each mannequin had a scarf wrapped around its neck, ready to be pulled up. There were also brooches, which were said to be "perfect for pinning up scarves." A Muslim woman in the audience snickered at the effect of one broach atop a headscarf; it looked like a cake decoration.
Of course, the most puritanical Muslims would say that hijab is not meant to be flashy. According to these men and women, it's supposed to be the sartorial equivalent of a burlap sack, not a trimly tailored Anne Klein jacket. It's supposed to be black, not trendy colors like fuchsia and teal. Preachers from New Jersey to California rail at the pulpit against women who put too much fashion in their hijab. To quote one rant on a conservative Muslim Web site: "Everyday we see our Muslim sisters proudly displaying names and initials on their clothing. … What are they advertising? CD, YSL, D&G,"—as in Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent and Dolce & Gabbana—"How ironic that the most modest of dressing—the cloak and scarf—should become contaminated by advertising the names of some of the most shameless and perverted people in the world."
But women will no doubt continue to thwart such dictates in a desire to look stylish while remaining pious. And it may be Muslims themselves, versed in the nuances and requirements of the hijab, who will be best equipped to introduce it to the world of high fashion. Next month, on Nov. 10, Femmes Arabes, a magazine for Arab women, will sponsor a fashion show in Montreal featuring caftans—long flowing garments popular among Muslim women in North Africa—designed by five Canadian designers and five Arab designers; it held a similar show last year. And Eve N Black, a Dubai-based boutique founded by Muslim fashion designer Mohammad Bahrami, sells abayas that cost anywhere from $1,500 to $10,000 and are often displayed with matching shoes and purses. (If she spends $6,500 or more, a woman can get a copyright for her personal abaya design.)
If the Nordstrom event made one thing clear, it was that it's not easy to combine high fashion with religion. While one woman walked away with a long orange duster sweater, women on both sides of the figurative catwalk were grumbling unhappily. A Moroccan woman found a black polka-dotted top inappropriate because of its "three-quarter-length sleeves." Sleeves, according to the strictest standards of hijab, must extend to the wrists. A George Mason University law school student groused that a black Anne Klein skirt was "too short" because it hit the calves. A young scarved woman became frustrated that she wasn't able to find "an A-line skirt without a slit." And the Nordstrom cashiers mumbled to each other they weren't ringing up enough sales. Indeed, the fashion seminar, to borrow a phrase from the fashion world, was
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Sanderella Abaya
Sanderella Abaya
A summer abaya made of voile, The Voile fabric makes abaya sheer very light in weight, drapes and gathers very well.
COLORS: White and Apple Green
BUY IT AT: http://www.2hijab.com/sanderella_abaya.asp
Price: US$74.90
£45.64 €52.65 CAD$81.11
A summer abaya made of voile, The Voile fabric makes abaya sheer very light in weight, drapes and gathers very well.
COLORS: White and Apple Green
BUY IT AT: http://www.2hijab.com/sanderella_abaya.asp
Price: US$74.90
£45.64 €52.65 CAD$81.11
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
BLUE-FLY Store Online! <3 <3 80% OFF!! 2009/July
BLUE-FLY Store Online! <3 <3
Their Beaded Bangles, Gorgeous As Ever Seen Before!
http://www.bluefly.com/Designer-Bracelets/_/N-fqi/list.fly
http://www.bluefly.com/Designer-Handbags/_/N-97ug/list.fly
Designer Bags !! Officially COOL! 20% OFF All Designer Bags!
Lean Marshall's Collection! GORGEOUS!! 20% OFF!
Confessions Of A Shopaholic Trailer! <3
Confessions Of A Shopaholic Trailer! <3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jml_MOEPA-s&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Erandomhouse%2Ecom%2Fbantamdell%2Fkinsella%2F&feature=player_embedded
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Black N White Outfit <3
Black N White Outfit <3
The Outfit:!
1.James Perse Cotton long sleeve T-shirt - $55.00 - net-a-porter.com
2.Black Layered Graduated Wire Hoop Earring - $8.00 - torrid.com
3.Outlets-Online.net . Betsey Johnson . BJ Silk Cotton Prom Dress - $660.00 - outlets-online.net
4.Mid Glitter Skinny Jean - 38.00 GBP - missselfridge.com
5.Sterling Silver True Love Waits Ring - $16.99 - charmingchick.com
6.Christian Dior shoes, Code: cd058s-sat74284_no, Main color:black, Materials... - $769.00 - styledrops.com
7.Malaysian Hijab - PARTY - hijabchic - en blogg från Devote.se - hijabchic.devote.se
8.hijab-rectangular - al-ikhlas.com
The Outfit:!
1.James Perse Cotton long sleeve T-shirt - $55.00 - net-a-porter.com
2.Black Layered Graduated Wire Hoop Earring - $8.00 - torrid.com
3.Outlets-Online.net . Betsey Johnson . BJ Silk Cotton Prom Dress - $660.00 - outlets-online.net
4.Mid Glitter Skinny Jean - 38.00 GBP - missselfridge.com
5.Sterling Silver True Love Waits Ring - $16.99 - charmingchick.com
6.Christian Dior shoes, Code: cd058s-sat74284_no, Main color:black, Materials... - $769.00 - styledrops.com
7.Malaysian Hijab - PARTY - hijabchic - en blogg från Devote.se - hijabchic.devote.se
8.hijab-rectangular - al-ikhlas.com
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Peach N Jean Rox!
Peach N Jean Rox!
And the jean jacket can be left open to show the shirt underneath! cute outfit! <3
The outfit!:
1.Current/Elliott The Super Slouchy Skinny jeans - # $250.00 - net-a-porter.com
2.AE Jean Jacket - # $49.50 - ae.com
3.Halle's Celebrity Style Oscar Earrings - # $29.95 - fantasyjewelrybox.com
4.BALENCIAGA - The Giant Work (Blanc) - diabro.net - Import Brand Shop - # $2,043.48 - diabro.net
5.COCKTAIL PINK BALLERINAS - # 109,00 EUR - mytheresa.com
6.Peachish shirt - # 22.99 GBP - missguided.co.uk
7.Enamel Coloured Bangle - # 15.00 GBP - topshop.com
8.MyFavoriteHijabStore - Hand-made Hijabs for $9.99! Free Shipping to U.S., - myfavoritehijabstore.com
And the jean jacket can be left open to show the shirt underneath! cute outfit! <3
The outfit!:
1.Current/Elliott The Super Slouchy Skinny jeans - # $250.00 - net-a-porter.com
2.AE Jean Jacket - # $49.50 - ae.com
3.Halle's Celebrity Style Oscar Earrings - # $29.95 - fantasyjewelrybox.com
4.BALENCIAGA - The Giant Work (Blanc) - diabro.net - Import Brand Shop - # $2,043.48 - diabro.net
5.COCKTAIL PINK BALLERINAS - # 109,00 EUR - mytheresa.com
6.Peachish shirt - # 22.99 GBP - missguided.co.uk
7.Enamel Coloured Bangle - # 15.00 GBP - topshop.com
8.MyFavoriteHijabStore - Hand-made Hijabs for $9.99! Free Shipping to U.S., - myfavoritehijabstore.com
Friday, July 3, 2009
Spend or Save? Marc or Forever 21?
Spend or Save? Marc or Forever 21?
Want the look but short on cash? Look for bargain items that reflect the feel of a higher end piece. We love this Marc by Marc Jacobs Habotai Ruffle-Front Dress (available at Net-A-Porter.com), but it costs $360. The Forever 21 Ruffle Woven Wrap Dress (available at Forever21.com for $27.80) isn’t an exact replica (which we think is a good thing), but it has the elements—the ruffles and the waist tie—that make the Marc dress so chic.
Want the look but short on cash? Look for bargain items that reflect the feel of a higher end piece. We love this Marc by Marc Jacobs Habotai Ruffle-Front Dress (available at Net-A-Porter.com), but it costs $360. The Forever 21 Ruffle Woven Wrap Dress (available at Forever21.com for $27.80) isn’t an exact replica (which we think is a good thing), but it has the elements—the ruffles and the waist tie—that make the Marc dress so chic.
Does anyone know ....................
Does anyone know of a turkish hijab store online , i have been wanting some turkish hijaabs, but cant seem to find any cheap!!! :(
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Why Hijaab ? - Heres the answer!
Why Hijaab ? - Heres the answer!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXEfmOeh_PQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXEfmOeh_PQ
THE WHOLE IDEA Izzz ........................
Now, the whole idea for islamic fashion is that
1. u dress modestly
2.look cute and be covered at the same time
3.wear things that match
And 4. Luv the way u look! Just show people in the world muzlims have fashion too!
And for one thing, someone will see u , and come up to u .. and say where did u get this idea from??? u look cool! ☼ ♫ ☼ ♫ <3
Now, if u happen to have a red shirt, a mini skirt, and a pair of black pants ... then u can just do a LAYER LOOK!!! it will look so kewl, and when u look at urself in the mirror, u will say hmm??? who is this?? lol she looks GREAT!
OK, the most important thing to ur outfit are SHOES and The PERFECT HIJAAB!!!
Always be careful about those two things! they always have to match the outfit!
Remember .. have fun in ur style!! dont let the other popular fashions get in the way of expressing ur feelings, and ur own kind of style! HAVE FUN!! THE BEST OF HOPE TO FINDING BEST FASHION!!!
.............. ۞۞۞ PEACE IN AND OUT!!!!!
1. u dress modestly
2.look cute and be covered at the same time
3.wear things that match
And 4. Luv the way u look! Just show people in the world muzlims have fashion too!
And for one thing, someone will see u , and come up to u .. and say where did u get this idea from??? u look cool! ☼ ♫ ☼ ♫ <3
Now, if u happen to have a red shirt, a mini skirt, and a pair of black pants ... then u can just do a LAYER LOOK!!! it will look so kewl, and when u look at urself in the mirror, u will say hmm??? who is this?? lol she looks GREAT!
OK, the most important thing to ur outfit are SHOES and The PERFECT HIJAAB!!!
Always be careful about those two things! they always have to match the outfit!
Remember .. have fun in ur style!! dont let the other popular fashions get in the way of expressing ur feelings, and ur own kind of style! HAVE FUN!! THE BEST OF HOPE TO FINDING BEST FASHION!!!
.............. ۞۞۞ PEACE IN AND OUT!!!!!
Summer In The City 2009 - 100 items to guarantee you a stylish Summer!!
100 items to guarantee you a stylish summerFrom garden parties to summer weddings, we've got it covered
http://www.handbag.com/fashion/Summer-in-the-city-2009/microsite
Easy Hijab Styles eBook
Easy Hijab Styles eBook
Step-By-Step Guide
1.The styles covers your chest which is the REQUIREMENT of the Syariah
2.The styles are EASY to do - No need fancy hair buns or accessories
3.The steps are CLEARLY shown in photo form, so it is easy to see the steps and
results
4.Extra TIPS on how to choose the right underscarf and scarf material are given, so
you will get beautiful results every time!
5.The styles are suitable for ALL ages - teens up to mature (but young at heart) women!
http://easyhijabstyles.com/index.html
"And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear therof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, or their brothers' sons or their sisters' sons, or their women or the servants whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex, and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O you Believers, turn you all together towards Allah, that you may attain Bliss." (Quran 24:31).
Step-By-Step Guide
1.The styles covers your chest which is the REQUIREMENT of the Syariah
2.The styles are EASY to do - No need fancy hair buns or accessories
3.The steps are CLEARLY shown in photo form, so it is easy to see the steps and
results
4.Extra TIPS on how to choose the right underscarf and scarf material are given, so
you will get beautiful results every time!
5.The styles are suitable for ALL ages - teens up to mature (but young at heart) women!
http://easyhijabstyles.com/index.html
"And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear therof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, or their brothers' sons or their sisters' sons, or their women or the servants whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex, and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O you Believers, turn you all together towards Allah, that you may attain Bliss." (Quran 24:31).
Jazzing up the abaya
Jazzing up the abaya
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8117185.stm
Few images shout Middle East quite like the abaya - the long, black overgarment worn by millions of women across the Arab world.
The design has remained pretty much unchanged for centuries, but a crop of young new designers in the United Arab Emirates are now giving the traditional dress a modern-day makeover.
Nothing is off limits - designers are experimenting with bold colours, materials like lace and leather, and even add sequins, embroidery and daring slits to jazz up the often-uniform black robe.
Reem and Hind Beljafla began their abaya-design business, DAS Collection, 18 months ago after realising the market for high-end design for Muslim women in Dubai was woefully underserved.
Their abayas are very much haute-couture - everything is custom-made and prices start at $1,000 (£606).
It [abaya] is not a tent that covers us all - we can still look pretty and elegant and sexy
Badr al-Budoor, designer
The young sisters say that as long as a woman's form is still covered by the abaya, there is no harm in having a bit of fun with the design.
"It never loses its identity - the target is to cover the woman's body so there is no harm in playing with the fabrics," says 24-year-old Reem.
"We thought why can't we take our abayas and make something to suit the modern girl, but still keep that conservative style."
Big ambitions
The Beljafla sisters have come under fire for some of their pieces, especially ones which are made from transparent fabric, or show off the shoulders.
Badr al-Budoor is now taking her business online. Photo: Abaya Couture
But they insist their more racy designs are only supposed to be worn to ladies-only gatherings such as wedding parties.
They also say that an evening-wear abaya is not supposed to be worn for a trip to the mall during the daytime - much as one wouldn't wear a cocktail dress to the office.
The sisters have big ambitions.
They have already met famous US designers like Vera Wang, and believe the day is not far off that Western models will be seen sashaying down a catwalk in Paris or New York wearing one of their creations.
'Spreading the word'
Badr al-Budoor is another Emirati designer who is having fun transforming the age-old abaya by adding frills, polka dot print and giant bows to give her pieces a princess-like feel.
Interest in her unusual designs is so high that she is taking her business online to target an international audience.
Rabia Z now runs a fashion empire
She also hopes that, as she opens up to the overseas market, people might view traditional Islamic dress in a different light.
"The whole point of doing this online is to spread the word on the abaya and show people that it is a fashionable piece that we wear," says Ms Budoor, who recently launched her website AbayaCouture.com.
"It is not a tent that covers us all. We can still look pretty and elegant and sexy - just as covered and as traditional as we need to be."
Ms Budoor does not see a contradiction in creating "sexy" abayas.
"The definition of sexy here in Emirati society is very different to the West," she says.
"Sexy to us means elegant, modest and feminine. It's possible to look attractive without showing any skin at all."
'Modest yet modern'
It is not just Islamic dress that is being transformed.
Emirati designers have also started to take Western-style clothes like T-shirts, skirts and trousers and adapt them for Muslim customers.
The potential for further growth is massive - it's still untapped, it's a niche market
Rabia Z, designer
Rabia Z began designing when she started wearing the hijab, or a headscarf, a few years ago while living in the US.
"I realised there was nothing stylish for women like me to wear - something that is conservative but still stylish and fashionable," says Rabia, who is now one of the region's most successful designers.
"It was shocking that no-one seemed to care about us - there was absolutely nothing that catered to the needs of Muslim women."
Rabia started her business eight years ago and now runs a veritable fashion empire catering for everything from haute-couture to high street.
She plays with both fabric and cut to achieve her design mantra of "modern yet modest", and even stitches hijabs into hooded tracksuit tops so that women can exercise in comfort.
But Rabia does not only want to dress Arab women, and is targeting Muslims right across the world, including in the West and further afield.
She already has plans to tap Asian markets like China and Korea, as well as countries closer to home like Iran and Afghanistan.
"The potential for further growth is massive," she says confidently.
"It's still untapped, it's a niche market and the potential is just enormous."
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45967000/jpg/_45967134_profi330.jpg
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8117185.stm
Few images shout Middle East quite like the abaya - the long, black overgarment worn by millions of women across the Arab world.
The design has remained pretty much unchanged for centuries, but a crop of young new designers in the United Arab Emirates are now giving the traditional dress a modern-day makeover.
Nothing is off limits - designers are experimenting with bold colours, materials like lace and leather, and even add sequins, embroidery and daring slits to jazz up the often-uniform black robe.
Reem and Hind Beljafla began their abaya-design business, DAS Collection, 18 months ago after realising the market for high-end design for Muslim women in Dubai was woefully underserved.
Their abayas are very much haute-couture - everything is custom-made and prices start at $1,000 (£606).
It [abaya] is not a tent that covers us all - we can still look pretty and elegant and sexy
Badr al-Budoor, designer
The young sisters say that as long as a woman's form is still covered by the abaya, there is no harm in having a bit of fun with the design.
"It never loses its identity - the target is to cover the woman's body so there is no harm in playing with the fabrics," says 24-year-old Reem.
"We thought why can't we take our abayas and make something to suit the modern girl, but still keep that conservative style."
Big ambitions
The Beljafla sisters have come under fire for some of their pieces, especially ones which are made from transparent fabric, or show off the shoulders.
Badr al-Budoor is now taking her business online. Photo: Abaya Couture
But they insist their more racy designs are only supposed to be worn to ladies-only gatherings such as wedding parties.
They also say that an evening-wear abaya is not supposed to be worn for a trip to the mall during the daytime - much as one wouldn't wear a cocktail dress to the office.
The sisters have big ambitions.
They have already met famous US designers like Vera Wang, and believe the day is not far off that Western models will be seen sashaying down a catwalk in Paris or New York wearing one of their creations.
'Spreading the word'
Badr al-Budoor is another Emirati designer who is having fun transforming the age-old abaya by adding frills, polka dot print and giant bows to give her pieces a princess-like feel.
Interest in her unusual designs is so high that she is taking her business online to target an international audience.
Rabia Z now runs a fashion empire
She also hopes that, as she opens up to the overseas market, people might view traditional Islamic dress in a different light.
"The whole point of doing this online is to spread the word on the abaya and show people that it is a fashionable piece that we wear," says Ms Budoor, who recently launched her website AbayaCouture.com.
"It is not a tent that covers us all. We can still look pretty and elegant and sexy - just as covered and as traditional as we need to be."
Ms Budoor does not see a contradiction in creating "sexy" abayas.
"The definition of sexy here in Emirati society is very different to the West," she says.
"Sexy to us means elegant, modest and feminine. It's possible to look attractive without showing any skin at all."
'Modest yet modern'
It is not just Islamic dress that is being transformed.
Emirati designers have also started to take Western-style clothes like T-shirts, skirts and trousers and adapt them for Muslim customers.
The potential for further growth is massive - it's still untapped, it's a niche market
Rabia Z, designer
Rabia Z began designing when she started wearing the hijab, or a headscarf, a few years ago while living in the US.
"I realised there was nothing stylish for women like me to wear - something that is conservative but still stylish and fashionable," says Rabia, who is now one of the region's most successful designers.
"It was shocking that no-one seemed to care about us - there was absolutely nothing that catered to the needs of Muslim women."
Rabia started her business eight years ago and now runs a veritable fashion empire catering for everything from haute-couture to high street.
She plays with both fabric and cut to achieve her design mantra of "modern yet modest", and even stitches hijabs into hooded tracksuit tops so that women can exercise in comfort.
But Rabia does not only want to dress Arab women, and is targeting Muslims right across the world, including in the West and further afield.
She already has plans to tap Asian markets like China and Korea, as well as countries closer to home like Iran and Afghanistan.
"The potential for further growth is massive," she says confidently.
"It's still untapped, it's a niche market and the potential is just enormous."
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45967000/jpg/_45967134_profi330.jpg
Nasheed - Free ( Hijab ) for the QUEENS of Islam
Nasheed - Free ( Hijab ) for the QUEENS of Islam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjJG_eTFaH0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjJG_eTFaH0
Muslim Bride and Evening Wear
Muslim Bride and Evening Wear
Some bridal dresses and evening dresses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrNbIVTaUJQ
Some bridal dresses and evening dresses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrNbIVTaUJQ
Islamic Clothing - Islamic Fashion
Islamic Clothing - Islamic Fashion
http://www.hermodesty.com - This video features a number of designers from across the world displaying their muslim fashions and islamic clothing at the 2006 Islamic Fashion Festival in Kuala Lumpur.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW3MvMKpRww
http://www.hermodesty.com - This video features a number of designers from across the world displaying their muslim fashions and islamic clothing at the 2006 Islamic Fashion Festival in Kuala Lumpur.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW3MvMKpRww
Rabia Z. - Islamic Fashion Designer
Rabia Z. - Islamic Fashion Designer
http://welovehijab.com - This video was featured first on Current.tv and now you can see it here on YouTube. Rabia Z of Rabia Designs (rabiadesigns.com) is a modern islamic fashion designer and she has already received some impressive recognition for what she's doing. Check out the video to find out more! http://welovehijab.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5BgWtKLlxU
http://welovehijab.com - This video was featured first on Current.tv and now you can see it here on YouTube. Rabia Z of Rabia Designs (rabiadesigns.com) is a modern islamic fashion designer and she has already received some impressive recognition for what she's doing. Check out the video to find out more! http://welovehijab.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5BgWtKLlxU
Madiha's Hijab Styles Tut#8 PART 2: "More Tips & ACCESSORIES!"
Madiha's Hijab Styles Tut#8 PART 2: "More Tips & ACCESSORIES!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3seUUiTvFA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3seUUiTvFA
Madiha's Hijab Styles Tut#8 PART 1: "More Tips & ACCESSORIES!"
Madiha's Hijab Styles Tut#8 PART 1: "More Tips & ACCESSORIES!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-Cc7B5Hg-A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-Cc7B5Hg-A
Madiha's Hijab Styles Tutorial #6: "Emo/Scene Hijab Wrap"
Madiha's Hijab Styles Tutorial #6: "Emo/Scene Hijab Wrap"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Te57fcfdQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Te57fcfdQ
Just 2 Say ....................
Just to say, The Videos i post are not any of me, they are just vids i liked from youtube! anyways as i wish to post vids of hijaab tutorial of me,i cannot... so please do rate and comment on my polyvore creations and have fun watchin the vids! yay! <3 <3
Makeup Tutorial Blue Breezy Morning
Makeup Tutorial Blue Breezy Morning
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt7hazsYj8w&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt7hazsYj8w&feature=channel
Arabian Princess Scarf And Makeup Tutorial!
COOL VIDEO!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSehqSWL6Nw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSehqSWL6Nw&feature=related
Black Is The New Wack!
Black is the new Wack! <3
U should always wear black in winter and fall, cause in summer and spring, u always wear bright colors!
The Outfit!:
1.Women: Women's Sparkle Hoodies - Black - oldnavy.com
2.Dark Star clothing romantic gothic skirts. gypsy and pagan celtic skirts. - 36.99 GBP - sharpe-designs.com
3.Gothic industrial hardware and bondage belts at Rivithead - $29.85 - rivithead.com
4.Hello Kitty Graffiti Tee - Teen Clothing by Wet Seal - $12.50 - wetseal.com
5.fredflare.com | you spin me record earrings - $10.00 - fredflare.com
6.Women's shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star Hi: Sale | Piperlime - piperlime.com
7.PLASTICLAND - Black Polka Dot Sugar Skull Tote Bag by Loungefly - shopplasticland.com
8.Hijab | Vogue | Simple | Black - muslimbase.com
U should always wear black in winter and fall, cause in summer and spring, u always wear bright colors!
The Outfit!:
1.Women: Women's Sparkle Hoodies - Black - oldnavy.com
2.Dark Star clothing romantic gothic skirts. gypsy and pagan celtic skirts. - 36.99 GBP - sharpe-designs.com
3.Gothic industrial hardware and bondage belts at Rivithead - $29.85 - rivithead.com
4.Hello Kitty Graffiti Tee - Teen Clothing by Wet Seal - $12.50 - wetseal.com
5.fredflare.com | you spin me record earrings - $10.00 - fredflare.com
6.Women's shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star Hi: Sale | Piperlime - piperlime.com
7.PLASTICLAND - Black Polka Dot Sugar Skull Tote Bag by Loungefly - shopplasticland.com
8.Hijab | Vogue | Simple | Black - muslimbase.com
Think Purple!
Think Purple!
The thing is, if u wear the tank underneath itll cover u more, and if u dont wear hijaab, then the tank will show, and give off some color!
The outfit!:
1.Fuchsia Croco Stamped Leather Drawstring Tote Bag - Buti - $870.00 - forzieri.com
2.AE Gathered Tank - $19.50 - ae.com
3.Aurora-Borealis Skirt - New Age & Spiritual Gifts at Pyramid Collection - $59.95 - pyramidcollection.com
4.SUPRÉ Peace Printed Raglan Sweater - 35.00 AUD - supre.com.au
5.Faith | Faith Twist Front Flat Sandal at ASOS - 28.00 GBP - asos.com
6.Marbled Resin Bangle Pack - 8.00 GBP - dorothyperkins.com
7.hijab by al-iklas islamic clothing - $12.50 - al-ikhlas.com
The thing is, if u wear the tank underneath itll cover u more, and if u dont wear hijaab, then the tank will show, and give off some color!
The outfit!:
1.Fuchsia Croco Stamped Leather Drawstring Tote Bag - Buti - $870.00 - forzieri.com
2.AE Gathered Tank - $19.50 - ae.com
3.Aurora-Borealis Skirt - New Age & Spiritual Gifts at Pyramid Collection - $59.95 - pyramidcollection.com
4.SUPRÉ Peace Printed Raglan Sweater - 35.00 AUD - supre.com.au
5.Faith | Faith Twist Front Flat Sandal at ASOS - 28.00 GBP - asos.com
6.Marbled Resin Bangle Pack - 8.00 GBP - dorothyperkins.com
7.hijab by al-iklas islamic clothing - $12.50 - al-ikhlas.com
Casual Outfit #1
Casual Outfit #1
The Outfit!:
1.Signature Butterfly Sunglasses - Prada - $257.00 - forzieri.com
2.?Nise? high top trainer - 255.00 GBP - brownsfashion.com
3.True Religion Joey flared leg denim jean - $245.00 - net-a-porter.com
4.Selected Femme Long Sleeve Dress - 120.00 GBP - oli.co.uk
5.Fashion Jewelry, Personalized Jewelry, Diamond Jewelry, Bridal Jewelry - $670.00 - maxandchloe.com
6.LUXURY-SHOPS.COM - Chanel, Jewelry, Case - 490.00 CHF - luxury-shops.com
7.Armine Eşarpları - EŞARP - SCARF - HIJAB Turkish Hijaab - birizbiz.tokca.de
The Outfit!:
1.Signature Butterfly Sunglasses - Prada - $257.00 - forzieri.com
2.?Nise? high top trainer - 255.00 GBP - brownsfashion.com
3.True Religion Joey flared leg denim jean - $245.00 - net-a-porter.com
4.Selected Femme Long Sleeve Dress - 120.00 GBP - oli.co.uk
5.Fashion Jewelry, Personalized Jewelry, Diamond Jewelry, Bridal Jewelry - $670.00 - maxandchloe.com
6.LUXURY-SHOPS.COM - Chanel, Jewelry, Case - 490.00 CHF - luxury-shops.com
7.Armine Eşarpları - EŞARP - SCARF - HIJAB Turkish Hijaab - birizbiz.tokca.de
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