Muslims find Islamic ways to be fashionable

This article was published in InFocus News a couple of days ago, and it seems like the media can't get enough of Islamic fashion!

By Nur Kausar, IFN Contributing Reporter

Models strutted down runways in winter in wide-leg pants, bulky jackets, long cardigans and the ever-so controversial keffiyah-like scarves, sometimes wrapped around their heads or trailing off their shoulders. Months later, spring and summer fashions have held on to stylized neck scarves and looser clothing, fitting into the lifestyle of modest women looking for a fashionably-refined appearance.

Muslim women vary in how they dress, depending on liberal or conservative mindsets, geographic location, family, age – the list goes on.

But there’s no holding back or even altering looks to fit into a more modest outfit when you can walk into a mosque or wedding wearing a long, flowing Marciano maxi dress under a Marc Jacobs knee-length coat topped with a Chloe head scarf.

If your budget permits, of course. If not, trends always hit more affordable stores even before models can step off the runway.

Moniza Bhaghani, owner of Hidaaya Books and Clothing in Diamond Bar, Calif., sells the Rebirth of Chic brand of inexpensive Western clothing with a Muslim twist. She offers long skirts and tops, scarves of different materials from cotton to shiny metallics, and tunics that younger people like to wear with jeans. Bhaghani said she noticed the latest blouses have shorter, puffy sleeves, so she took the style and made it more Muslim-friendly by adding long sleeves and a higher collar.

“Sometimes it’s hard to find the right Islamic-type blouse in North America to sell in the store, so it has to be ordered overseas,” Bhaghani, a Muslim convert who is half Latina, said. She also tries to incorporate local fabrics and designs, though, to keep it Western-themed. “I talk to customers about what they would like and keep in mind that things have to be a length in which women can pray.”

Bhaghani added that she likes to provide traditional Arab embroidery and bead styles because they are so similar to Latin styles, bringing the cultures together.

Read the rest here.