Fashion and Religion Combined!
Clothing is frequently at the core of disputes over how Muslims should live in the quickly changing, internationally interconnected world of the early 2000s. Is it OK for women to cover their heads? Is the veil, or hijab, a symbol of tyranny or liberation? Who makes the decisions on what Muslims should wear? Is it acceptable to dress in Western styles? Is it true that they are required for modernization? And what constitutes appropriate behavior for Muslims in the West?
Overt and subtle symbolic connotations are woven into Islamic clothing. Many men and women dress as Muslims to demonstrate their devotion to God. Not to the religion itself, but God’s direction and will; Islam’s name implies “submission.” As a result, a Muslim is literally “one who submits,” and Islamic clothing reflects that devotion. At the same time, other variables such as climate, cultural aesthetics, economy, trading patterns, and political beliefs have created distinct types of clothes.
Bowing and kneeling are much more manageable with loose clothes. Men and women who have done the Hajj are referred to as “Hajji” or “el-Hajji,” and they usually wear clothing that reflects their new status. During the journey, pilgrims also wear ihram, a particular kind of clothing; this is made up of two lengths of white fabric wrapped around the top and lower bodies for males. On the journey, women are supposed to dress in a basic version of their own culture. One of the main goals of ihram is to keep the display of status and riches to a minimum; this reflects the belief that all Muslims are equal in the eyes of God.
Women from wealthy families may buy a fashionable Islamic garment that seems modest but costs hundreds of dollars in oil-rich regions surrounding the Persian Gulf. They may also wear European couture beneath these layers of clothes (or during gender-segregated private gatherings). Some fashion brands, such as Chanel and Dior, have a sizable Middle Eastern clientele. There are frequently various types of attire that may be worn to demonstrate a greater degree of social and economic status in places where people are not as rich, such as the chaadaree or burka, in Afghanistan.
Women’s clothing that covers them from head to toe is not only costly, but it also makes manual labor physically tricky for them. Many families cannot afford the expense or loss of income; this is also true in the United States and Europe, where discrimination towards visibly Muslim women makes working outside the home difficult.
Men and women should not dress alike, according to a common interpretation of Islamic clothing. Clothing should not be too tight or show the shape of the body beneath it. Clothing should not be beautiful in terms of design, texture, or fragrance. A man’s body should be covered from his knees to his navel. Except for her hands and face, a lady should cover her whole body.
These guidelines apply to both men and women in public areas and private gatherings; bodies are not to be seen when both men and women are present. Modesty is appropriate at any age, but it is indispensable after a girl or boy reaches puberty.
Sustainability is the Hottest Eid Fashion Trend Today!
Muslims all around the globe will be able to wear their best abayas, salwar kameezes, kaftans, and thobes that they’ve been saving for three previous Eids. Those flashy, elaborately woven pieces will be more sustainable for an increasing number of people who reconsidered their fashion choices at the time.
When the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, which commemorates the completion of the Hajj pilgrimage, begins. In the run-up to the festival, Muslim designers saw a need for eco-friendly Eid clothing and created eco-friendly goods. Long-term sustainability is becoming more popular among Muslim fashion stars like Halima Aden and Mariah Idrissi.
“We feel that sustainability and ethical methods will be very essential today, especially around Eid,” said Lena Aljahim, a hijab designer. Muslims spend $2.2 trillion each year on their “faith-inspired ethical purchasing requirements.” According to 2020/2021 State of the Global Islamic Economy Report, “clothing sustainability is rising in favor with customers and has also been the focus of numerous modest fashion events.”
The word “modest fashion” refers to the restrictive dress style adopted by Muslims. In 2019, for example, the most recent Modest Fashion Week of Muslim-focused fashion presentations — highlighted sustainability as one of its central themes, with a bevy of Muslim designers producing designs created from environmentally friendly raw materials or technology. According to the research, the modest fashion market would be worth $402 billion by 2024. One of the largest customer groups in modest fashion is millennial Muslims, driving the need for sustainability.
Clothing that Adheres to Islamic Principles.
After observing a growing wave of fashion-forward Muslims being conscious of their garments’ origins, British fashion designer Ainara Medina founded her sustainable modest dress brand Nea Wear mid-pandemic. Medina upcycles textiles and utilizes an eco-friendly supply chain, from manufacturers to transportation businesses, to make it more sustainable.
“I feel that being on lockdown and spending more time at home, having more time to think about things, has influenced our decisions and the way we consume,” Medina said. “A large number of Muslim customers have begun to conduct a study and recognize the relevance of sustainable fashion.” She went on to say that conscious consumption is in line with the Islamic principles that Muslims hold dear. “From an Islamic viewpoint, we have been entrusted with the obligation of caring for the world and looking after it,” Medina added. “Being environmentally conscious implies not causing harm to the environment and, as a result, all living organisms on it.”
Medina debuted an Eid line of silken gowns that combined sustainability with glitz. They sought to provide a sustainable and ethical alternative to unsustainable and unethical fashion, which they claimed was frequently the most available option. As Eid approaches, sales of their eco-friendly fiber hijabs have soared. “Girls are seeking better quality hijabs and greater value, especially during Eid,” says the expert.
It is now easier to be environmentally conscious.
Older Muslim-owned businesses are ramping their attempts to provide sustainable products. “I believe that if people are given a chance, they will gravitate towards things that are more attainable on a sustainable basis,” fashion influencer Melanie Elturk remarked. Elturk, the CEO of Haute Hijabs, announced that her New York-based company’s sustainability had been a hallmark since it was started in 2010 when she recycled antique scarves into hijabs.
Elturk expanded his research into sustainable fashion after noticing that Muslim customers were becoming more conscious of the items they bought and the companies that manufactured them. Last year, Haute Hijab launched woven hijabs made of sustainable bamboo. In April, the company produced recycled chiffon hijabs made from 7 to 8 recycled plastic bottles to reduce its carbon footprint.
The use of bright colors in abayas is increasing in the UAE, with bolder colors like green and patterns accounting for 5.2 percent of goods in stock this year, up from 2.1 percent two years ago. The number of women’s jewelry styles available online has increased by 13% in the last three months.
Luxury companies have been at the forefront of the modest fashion movement, collecting the money of the wealthy Middle Eastern consumer. Fast fashion shops are making modest clothing more affordable. Farfetch debuted a Ramadan collection with fitted suits, kaftans, modest evening dresses, and luxurious loungewear from designers Elle B Zhou, Dolce & Gabbana, and Stella McCartney. Since 2016, Uniqlo has collaborated on a collection with visual artist and designer Hana Tajima. Quick fashion manufacturers have a distinct split of hemlines than the luxury market for skirt lengths.
Designer companies are more heavily engaged in midi lengths, which account for 52% of skirts sold on luxury brand websites. The evergreen popularity of the house dress continues, with maxi and midi dresses selling out for the first time since 2018.
According to Reuters, Muslim customers are expected to treble to 900 million by 2030. This group is proud of their faith and is reshaping the narrative around traditional attire such that modesty and sexiness are not mutually incompatible. Brands compete for their attention in the modest fashion market, which is estimated to be worth $44 billion each year.
