Hijab making its way in Fashion

The hijab or the veil are perhaps the most polarizing garments in today’s modern era. The concept of hijab shown by Muslim women that it can be diversified into various ways of veiling practices.

Women have also given a creative touch to their hijabs by introducing the use of different materials, patterns, layers of fabrics and accessories. Not only that but the hijab has also shown a wide range of styles and fashion across different cultures and countries.

The hijab has given varying reactions from around the globe, ranging from mandatory observation in some countries to an outright ban in others. They have become a game by politicians and religious figures internationally, hence becoming a warfare component between the East and West.

In recent time, national and international designers came to be involved in the sale of Islamic fashions. Today, Muslim fashion has become a profit-making global industry with countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Turkey as the lead.

Just when all seemed unlikely, the hijab transformed into a high-fashion accessory having walked the runways of Paris, Milan, and New York featured by the world greatest designers, Gucci, Marc Jacobs and Versace.

Commentators have said that introducing the hijab in the fashion industry could help fight Islamophobia in countries still unknown to this culture. Others have suggested that the hijab in fashion must be embraced and that Muslim women should be proud of it.

Malaysian actress and television presenter, Noor Neelofa Mohd. Noor, commonly known as Neelofa, is the owner and face of the well known Malaysian brand Neelofar Hijab which the company has become one of Malaysia’s biggest headscarf brands and has explored the export markets in just over a year.

The demand for hijab or headscarves rises each day as more and more Muslim women decide to cover their heads. In 2014, the estimated worth in the global market $230 billion and is predicted to reach $327bn by 2020.

In Neelofar sales, scarves that cost no more than 100 ringgit($24) reached 50 million ringgit by the end of 2015. The company sells its products at its flagship stores and via 700 distributors nationwide.

With distributors in Singapore, Brunei, London, Australia, Netherlands and US, the company sells online and ships to anywhere across the globe.

Turkey is now the biggest market for Muslim fashion. Whereas Indonesia’s market has grown rapidly and the country is seen to be a world leader in this industry. 

by Erica Pamela