Fashion: The Hijaab

The youth today is very much concerned about their looks and try their best to keep their fashion style up-to-date. Although short kurta, jeans, salwar kameez, and saree are the majority choice of women today, however, a slight change in the fashion market can be noticed. Recently women are becoming more close to their spiritual identity and being Muslims they understand their duty to wear hijaab. Hijaab has been a topic of controversy since September 9/11 nevertheless at the same time it has also gained huge popularity among the Muslim women. HIjaab is seen not as a fashion only it is a duty that Muslim women strongly believe in. A 22 year old young woman named Fawzia Malik says : “Wearing the Hijaab isn't just a matter of simply putting a piece of cloth on your head, it is an attitude, a way of thinking and behaving, and accepting yourself for who and what you are. Basically it constitutes an Islamic way of life”. Although looking at the Afghanis people may assume hijaab to be oppressive but to the rest of the Muslim world it is rather a choice.

A recent Fashion show held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, has created a buzz all over the fashion world. This fashion show was exclusively for Muslim women who wear Abaya’s, Jilbaabs, Burkha, Veil, Hijaab- you name it! This fashion show reflected the growing influence of Islamic creed in Malaysia, representing how enchanting a head veil can be. They presented a total of about 100 designers from all over the Muslim countries.

Amongst them a Bangladeshi Designer Roxana Salem held her very own international hijaab fashion show and earned a name of fame with others in the row of Islamic Fashion line. Salam also displayed her work for the first time in Bangladesh in collaboration with NTV a fashion show has been arranged recently with the title “Shada Kalo” where Salam displayed her work for the first time in Bangladesh. She has introduced fashionable and eye catching hijaabs that attract customers of every age. Now a days street are filled with burkha fashion in Dhaka. The customers are mostly young, educated and enlightened women who think wearing Hijaab is not only a duty but something that differentiate them as Muslims. They believe it restores respect and dignity of the women status into the society.

Hijaab as a fashion brought in various gears into fashion such as niqaabs, scarves, brooches, pins, shayla’s, gloves and of course various cuts of gowns are available. Although historically significant black colored hijaab has always been a hit, but now these gowns come in various colors, designs and cuts. It is no more “just” wearing jilbaabs; rather it is about carrying it off with a fling of style. Many stores are available in Bashundhara City Mall where one can easily choose their type of hijaab with negotiable prices.

Internationally Hijaab designers are ambitiously thinking of different form of hijaabs. They are creating hijaabs suitable for sports activities such as swimming as well as skating. It is a sign of liberation in case of women who wears it which allows them to do any activity maintaining their identities. It is no more a cultural expression of the East but instead it emerged as a symbol of believe which the women are not ready to give up even under pressure. Next time any one thinks Hijaab is boring, uncouth and oppressive check these pictures out perceptions are changing!!