Scarves, Abayas or
Jilbaas!
How do Muslim women see
Fashion in a western world?
I want to introduce you to our new guest blogger of this week: Mariam Shaikh, PhD student in Communication at Florida State University. That is how we met when I was getting my PhD. Since I am truly interested in any forms of fashion I wanted to learn more about Muslim iconic fashion items. I must admit I am very ignorant in the subject, but I am very glad I am surrounded by cultured and fashionable friends who can teach me!
Guest Blogger: Mariam
Shaikh, Tallahassee, FL, USA
February 17,
2014
More than just a mark of identity,
Scarves, Abayas or Jilbabs, is the the dress type of most Muslim women
across the world. Adorning the hijab means remaining faithful to their
religious doctrines. Hijab is known as a veil that covers the head and chest when a Muslim woman is exposed in the company of adult males outside of their
immediate families.
The abaya "cloak" is a
simple, loose over-garment, essentially a robe-like dress, worn by some women
in parts of the Muslim world traditionally black that covers the whole body
except the face, feet, and hands.
While, the term jilbāb or jilbaab refers to
any long and loose-fit coat or garment that fulfills the Islamic demand for a
Hijab prescribed in the holy book Quran. In the Quran, chapter al-Ahzab (33:59)
says:
Modern Jilbaab
CHECK OUT THE ENTIRE LOOK ON POLYVORE
Transliteration
of Arabic text:
“
Ya ayyuha an-Nabiyy qul li azwajika wa
banatika wa nisa al-mu'minin yudnina alayhinna min jalabib hinna; dhalika adna
an yu'rafna fa laa yu'dhayn. Wa kana Allahu Ghafur Rahim”
Translation:
“O Prophet! Say to your wives and your
daughters and the women of the faithful to draw their JALABIB close around
them; that is better that they will be recognized and not annoyed. And God is
ever Forgiving, Gentle”.
The word "jalabib" is the
plural of "jilbab". This ayah states a command for Muslim women to
wear a garment which Allah (God) has called "jilbab". Jilbab, Jubbah
or Jilaabah is also known as Manteau (a French loan word, meaning
"coat") by Persian speakers in Iran.
On
another occasion, the Quran further explained the command by saying:
“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 thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms
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 slaves 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 ye Believers! Turn ye all together
towards Allah, that ye may attain Bliss.” [Q 24:31].
As Muslim Women, putting beliefs into a practice that produces a physical
manifestation of a belief system in accordance of Quranic commands in terms of
a proper dress code in a modern society is an ambitious pursuit. The Islamic
faith & Muslim cultural influences on a modern Muslim woman today lead her
to observance that includes blending socially while standing out as a Muslim. Muslims
in America run the gamut in occupations – from doctors to IT Professionals,
engineers to entrepreneurs, and students to Professors. Ethnically, they are
Arab, African, South and Southeast Asian, African-American, Hispanic, European,
even East and Central Asian residing across the diverse landscape of America.
MODERN MUSLIM FASHION IN AMERICA
For a Muslim woman in America, trying
to adhere to her basic religious obligation, roaming in the Fashion markets,
for a perfect dressing and style, which covers her all modestly and beautifully,
and suits her aesthetics is a tough task. The modern jilbāb usually should cover
the entire body, except for hands, face, and head. The head and neck are then
covered by a scarf or wrap (khimar). Some women though also choose to cover the
hands and face (niqab).[1]
Being
in a western community, as a visitor or a resident, quite a number of Muslim
women are striving and figuring out how to be themselves; while being part of a
diverse and dynamic populace of America. Searching for long sleeves shirts, long
dresses, cardigans, skirts, and scarves from the branded clothing is one way of
doing that. Or looking for specific Islamic designers (Online & Store) to
get what is trendy and fit their need is the other.
Fashion Blogger Indahna Dapuspita - Learn more about her on her blog -
For approximately a growing 8 million Muslim population, a 2010 study by the marketing firm Ogilvy Noor reported that the American Muslim consumer market was worth $170 billion. Lack of availability of dressing options provided by American companies has left this market untouched, leaving an opening filled by Muslim entrepreneurs.
MUSLIM DESIGNERS
Many
Muslim designers like Melanie Elturk launched a modest fashion clothing line in
Chicago joining the populous ranks of business entrepreneurs to better reach a
growing but not yet widely recognized market niche: consumers who, like Elturk,
are American Muslims. She started Haute Hijab because she did not feel that
mainstream fashion is catering well to the modern young American Muslim[2]. Another entrepreneur, Ms. Ebrahim who wrote a famous book titled: “101 Reasons Why I’m Glad I Wear Hijab”; a refreshing look at what is often a serious, controversial, and
misunderstood topic, also started a
clothing retail and design company called Rebirth of Chic to provide women with
clothing that was totally modest, yet artsy and fashionable.[3]
The fashionable Melanie Elturk posing for her blog
I,
as a Muslim student from South Asia, see the fashion industry in
America lacking a focus to this dynamic and diverse population thus far. I do
not think, wearing a hijab or following a modest dress up is an innovation in a
western society. When I read views of ‘Carin Miller’ who wore hijab in honor of
Feb. 1 World Hijab Day being a non-Muslim woman to know how it feels to dress
Muslim’s way, it confirmed my opinion.
Similarly,
there is a need to integrate in the fashion market not just the need and beauty of Muslim women but also our different cultures and religions that are mixing everyday into the natural progression of modern society.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? IS RELIGION OFF LIMITS IN FASHION? [This is Ginevra speaking]. If we think about the latest collection of D&G we saw a come back to the traditional southern Catholic women wearing black knee length dresses and head scarves.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jilb%C4%81b
[2]
(Sobh, 2014) http://muslimvillage.com/2014/02/03/49443/american-muslim-market-worth-billions/
[3] (Hautehijab,
2013) http://www.onislam.net/english/culture-and-entertainment/books/468399-101-reasons-why-im-glad-i-wear-hijab.html
http://www.pinterest.com/cassiewilkerson/us-western-hijab-modest-fashion/
[4] KCSG
Television - A Non Muslim s Account Of A Day In Hijab
http://www.kcsg.com/view/full_story/24591503/article-A-Non-Muslim-s-Account-Of-A-Day-In-Hijab-?instance=more_local_news1
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