Haute Hijab and Awesome Abayas

 

 
I am in love.  Global glamour has taken a respectful turn, sprinkling a dash of style + class to religious freedom.  Previously we've seen Scandinavian based H&M feature a model wearing a hijab, along with a handful of collections specially designed for and featured during the holy month of Ramadan.  This time we're seeing a whole new level of options for the devout.  Italian design duo Dolce & Gabbana have designed a capsule collection of super chic hijabs and abayas. 

For those who don't know, a brief religious lesson: the حجاب or hijab is a veil or scarf.  Muslim women choose to wear the hijab or other coverings for a variety of reasons. Some women wear the hijab because they believe that God has instructed women to wear it as a means of fulfilling His commandment for modesty. For these women, wearing hijab is a personal choice that is made after puberty and is intended to reflect one’s personal devotion to God. In many cases, the wearing of a headscarf is often accompanied by the wearing of loose-fitting, non-revealing clothing, also referred to as hijab. Others choose to wear the hijab as a symbol of their religious affiliation or in pride of their country and ethnic origin.

The عباية‎ or abaya is a long, cloak-like garment meant to cover the body from the neck to the ankles and is traditionally loose fitting.  This is of massive religious significance, citing often the Quranic quote, "O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters, and the believing women, to cover themselves with a loose garment. They will thus be recognized and no harm will come to them" Qur'an 33:59

This special collection is available at Dolce & Gabbana stores throughout the Middle East, as well as shops in London, Paris, Munich, and Milano.

I love that the collection uses fabrics seen from other mainstream designs in the same spring/summer collection, including fabulous florals and perfect polka dots.  

I'm only slightly amused that some of the designs feature sheer panels and revealing slits, but I won't be surprised if the not-so-strict believers and more modern interpreters of the religion snatch up a few of the not-so-modest options. 

All in all, I'm thrilled.  If Louis Vuitton can put Jaden Smith in their spring/summer dresses, at least Dolce & Gabbana can bring a bit of style + class to the fabulous Muslim women throughout the world.

 

الحمد لله