Modest Sportswear Options For The Muslim Woman

Social media was abuzz a few weeks ago when it was announced that sporting giant Nike would be releasing their version of a sports hijab. The specially designed garment which had been in development for over a year had been tested by Muslim athletes and is expected to provide a breathable but also practical alternative for Muslim women.

The announcement was hailed as a step forward in the perceptions of Muslim women and with the largest sporting goods company outwardly supporting the hijab it's hoped the ‘Nike hijab’ would open the door for greater participation by Muslimah’s in sports. However, well before the buzz of the Nike hijab, inventive Muslims had already put together their interpretation of modest sportswear. Since Nike is getting all the shine these days we thought we’d put together a list of some of the top modest sports clothes for the active Muslimah.

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Veil Hijab

When technology meets modesty. Veil Hijab are the company behind the 'Cool dry shawl' the world's first ever climate-adapting hijab. The company established itself through a successful Kickstarter campaign which raised over $39,000 in 2015. Two years on they have created a great product, providing a waterproof and breathable hijab as well as adding additional apparel to their collection.

It's time for change. Hijab revolutionized. We've created the first ever climate adapting hijab. Cool Dry consists of water-repellent, cooling, and sweat-wic...

The headscarf is made from 100% nylon fabric and is also water-resistant making it a handy purchase even if you're not planning a workout anytime soon. Veil also stock a couple of well-designed outer garments the 'Halo running hoodie' and the 'Spark half zip' in a variety of colours and sizes ranging from XS to 3XL. The hoodie comes with a uniquely designed 'stay-in-pace scuba hood' providing stability and additional comfort for runners.

"Designed for coverage, built for performance"

Veil are a standout example of a Muslim-run company taking the initiative and challenging mainstream retailers, balancing style, comfort and performance in a way we often don't see in the Muslim market. 

www.veilgarments.com

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Haramlak

If you're interested in a swimming session these 'Burkinis' from Spanish based company Haramalak might be of interest. We were lucky enough to be sent two of their products for review and we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of material as well as the comfortable fit they provided.

Haramlak carries different variations of the infamous 'Burkini' allowing for each customer to find a design that they would feel comfortable in. When purchasing garments for water based sports activities one of the important considerations is how well they fare under water. The clothing material performed well helping to avoid the heavy drag often created when the material becomes saturated. 

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"Traditional designs based on Muslim values aimed at giving women the freedom to practice swimming and outdoor sport while maintaining their traditions"

If you're looking for a fashionable but also modest alternative to a swimsuit this would be our first pick.

www.haramlak.com

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ASIYA

Coming in at number three it's the Nike hijab, or maybe not? Over a year before the concept of the Nike Hijab, Asiya put together their version of a sports headscarf. Their product comes in three separate designs allowing for various forms of coverage while also utilising specialised material to provide comfort, breathability and ease of use. 

The Asiya brand was founded due to the growing need of young Muslim women who wanted to compete in sports but always felt they would compromise their religious and cultural beliefs. Asiya seems to have stepped up to the plate and after a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2016 they have launched their product to the public.

"ASIYA honours and encourages Muslim women of all ages—young girls, tweens, teens, mature women—to experience a new level of confidence, cultural integrity, comfort, and health"

They currently have an opening sale of 40% on various items so be quick if you want to grab a discount!

www.asiyasport.com

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MU'MINE

Perhaps the most versatile brand on this list is Mumine activewear. They stock a variety of clothing types including tops, bottoms and Hijabs in a range of styles, colours and fits. The brand balances both modesty as well as ethical considerations as they personally take care of all production. The variety of clothing available allows you to be more specific when purchasing garments allowing you to select an outfit that best suits your demands.

Like most items on this list, Mumine has made use of the latest tech fabrics, mostly using Nylstars MERYL® fabric guaranteeing UV protection, shape retention and a reduction in odour when working out.

"High-performance fabrics ensures your mind is on your workout and not on the clothes you wear. We design activewear that is feminine and on trend with the latest technology, keeping in mind that sustainability and ethical clothing is our top priority"

www.mumineactivewear.com

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Islamic Design House

The last company on our list have come up with an interesting concept for workout gear. It's a sports jilbab. Probably not the best option in terms of practicality but the material, as well as design, would be suitable for lighter forms of exercise. Their sports jilbabs are available in both cotton and polyester fabrics and provide full coverage while also maintaining a sporting look.

Islamic design house is not an exclusive sports retailer and they have a variety of other clothing items for sale. A great purchase, just don't turn up to karate practice in this. 

islamicdesignhouse.com

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Egyptian Trendsetters: The Story Behind Stabraq | Hazem El Seddiq | Behind The Brand

Our debut fashion series titled 'Behind The Brand' takes a closer look at a number of prevalent clothing companies inspired by Islamic culture. In this five-part series, we dissect all the components of what makes a business run and also learn more about the budding entrepreneurs behind the vision. In this article, we speak to Hazem El Seddiq founder of Stabraq.

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The word Istabraq (إِسْتَبْرَقٌ) which is found in 76th Surah of the Quran (al-Insan) is interpreted as ‘heavy brocade’ and is considered a reward for those who do good. In the same chapter of the Quran there is also a description of the qualities of the people of paradise:

They [are those who] fulfil [their] vows and fear a Day whose evil will be widespread. And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive (76:7-8)

The qualities of a Muslim are an important characteristic, the Quran describes the qualities of the dwellers of paradise and it from this characterisation we seek to align and perfect our character in this world.

Clothing brand Stabraq comes as one of the unique companies in the Middle-East which seek to encapsulate these qualities and represent them within the medium of fashion. Founded in 2013 by Hazem El Seddiq, Stabraq has grown to serve a deeper purpose than its original mission statement, establishing itself to be a symbol of the contemporary Muslim.

The statement is clear, don’t follow the trend, set it. We sat down to have a chat with Hazem and got to learn a little more about his journey on YouTube and the challenges of founding a clothing brand in Egypt.

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Tell us a little about yourself what is your background?

I studied engineering architecture here in Egypt at Cairo University. It actually took me 8 years to graduate, it's not necessarily something that I am proud about but in a way I am. Because I was working alongside my education and that helped me a little with regards to college itself but in the end when I graduated I had experience.

I was actually working in my field of architecture one year before I graduated and when I graduated I continued for another year and then I shifted my career completely. So that gave me a whole lot of experience.

So how did the YouTube start?

I follow a lot of YouTubers I mean everybody loves YouTube, everybody wants to be a YouTuber. So I was with a family member and he had a kid, this kid was like 10 or something and we were talking and I asked him “what do you want to be when you grow up?” he replied, “I want to be a YouTuber”. So I was like that’s cool, that’s something I can be.

I started to make videos on Facebook like Dawah videos, kind of like vlogs. I would talk about a topic something of the top of my head. I thought I can edit, I can shoot video, I have lots of ideas why don’t I start this for myself? So, I started using my brother’s camera, it was a canon 70d and I started shooting, then the camera broke.

People were starting to like the content and I started gaining followers so I was like guys my camera broke and I can’t do anything else I just put that out there as a post I was letting people know that the content was going to stop for a while. And then people started gathering and wanted to get me the camera, and so I asked some people like is it cool that these people get me stuff? It was kind of awkward at the beginning but they were like this is Dawah and we want to support this so I was like alright let’s do this.

I got another Camera and then I started the vlog right away. I thought Insha’Allah this was a sign that I should do this. The whole idea behind this was of course number one Dawah. With daily vlogs you want to portray your lifestyle and show people how you live, you want to tell them this is what I do, this is what I eat, these are my friends, this is my life. So this is what I wanted to do, I wanted to show the life of a Muslim more or less that was not a terrorist, that was not stereotypically what they all say.

When was Stabraq launched and what was the inspiration behind starting?

It was launched in 2013 on the 15th of June. I usually don’t remember dates but this was very critical because two weeks after that it was the 30th of June military coup. So, two weeks right after we started the whole country shut down, all the delivery services they weren’t going anywhere. The internet actually stopped, everything, it was a mess.

The idea behind Stabraq was that we like clothing brands. We like the idea behind a brand like Adidas, Nike, Springfield and all that kind of stuff when one of us would buy something new we would get the hang tag and we would read what this brand wants to communicate to us and what they want to represent. So, the whole idea behind branding and behind the fact you can say something through a piece of clothing or product was fascinating to us. We couldn’t find anything that represented us as Muslims, as Arabs, as Egyptians, as modern Muslims. So, we decided to be this window for Muslims, our slogan is actually ‘empowering trendsetters’ or ‘empowering Muslim change makers’ because I mean that’s what we see ourselves as.

What’s #AlienBeard?

Well, Alien beard is everything that represents me personally and people who have beards because I’m sure you know that everybody sees bearded men as terrorists, Aliens and weirdo’s so we wanted to emphasise this meaning. So we were like right if you want to see us as Aliens we’re going to make it cool, we’re going to make being an Alien with a beard something that you’re going to want to be part of so that’s where it came from.

What genre would you consider your clothing to be?

It’s a blend of street wear and lifestyle. Because in the end, my goal is to make clothes that fit Muslims.

The constraints that we give designers is that we want something that’s cool, unique and that has a Modern Islamic idea. It doesn’t have to be ‘in your face Islamic’ at all because that’s the whole idea behind the brand. If I were to wear a Stabraq item which for example said ‘trendsetters’ on it, it's not necessarily Islamic but what the brand generally stands for is an Islamic idea.

It’s created from the values that you believe in as a Muslim?

Exactly.

You often emphasise on the need to set trends, why do you think this is important?

That’s a very good question. When something is trending a topic like Donald Trump for example or whatever is going on in the word, I don’t like to follow it, I wouldn’t like to make a video about it because this just means that I am following people and trying to gain recognition or traction from this trend. I don’t like this at all and I don’t really hold a lot of respect for the people who do this because it’s too easy. It doesn’t influence your personality, what do you have to stand for? What do you represent if you are going to ride every trend?

So that’s why I try to do what I do, I try to create my own trend, have my own line and this is not just in clothing and its not just in the vlog it's in everything. I want people to follow the trend that I make I don’t want to follow anybody else because that’s our problem in general as Muslims we follow everything.

Stabraq is very much an Egyptian clothing brand, why do you want to keep things in Egypt?

It was low-cost that was one of the main ideas, and the other very important idea is that I want to give people in Egypt hope. I can easily go travel to Canada for example and start Stabraq over there, I could go to London and start it over there because people in the western world need Stabraq more because they want something that represents them, it has more value in these communities and my style of design is actually more attractive to people in the West.

But it's very important to do it here in Egypt because I want to give people the hope of starting something and that if you want to start something here you can succeed, you can do something big. I have a very strong belief that if Egypt rises then at least all the Arab countries will rise alongside.

Is all of the production done in Egypt?

Yes, everything even the cotton. Sometimes we use Egyptian cotton but it's funny because people in Egypt don’t really appreciate Egyptian cotton. So we don’t tend to emphasise this anymore.

Do you see support for Stabraq, specifically within the Egyptian youth?

Very much so, people are looking for anything, for any hope of any kind whether it’s a company or whether it's somebody who makes videos anything of any kind that can show them that our current state is not something that is going to go on forever people are going to back it.

But, I try to take it a step further and try and take this support and turn it into something useful as in something we can build on. In many of my videos right after people show me support I appreciate it but I tell them that this is not enough, comment that you have started something, ask me how to start something, show me what you have done. I try to push them and I give talks a lot about this stuff and I try to push people to create something.

What are some of the challenges you have faced while starting your company?

First of all, there is the political state in Egypt. Two weeks after we started the military coup happened so that was a major hit. After that, it's related to quality assurance one summer we had a very big collection it was ready to go and it was a really good season for us. Two or three days before we received the product from the factory a friend of mine (the co-founder) walked into the office and said: “I have bad news the factory has burnt down with all of our production”.

We did get some of our money back but the whole season was killed and we spent one whole year really with no products. The other challenge is in regards to quality you have to go to a really good factory and no matter how good they are you have to send someone to have quality assurance, to be over their heads. Something else is that generally the inflation is very very bad over here, a few months ago the Egyptian pound versus the US dollar was 8.8, right now it's 20 so you can imagine how high the costs are. So, it's very hard for us to make money of the products. For example, the hoody I am wearing is E£ 300 which is actually very low with respect to everything else.

You recently opened your first physical store what was the process behind it and how has it gone so far?

A friend of ours has a perfume store, he represents our values so we decided to give him some of our products so that he could sell them in his store and things went well. So he was like to me there’s a store across the street and the rent is very low if you guys don’t take it I’m going to take it and name it Stabraq and sell your stuff [laughs].

So I was like I don’t have the money to take it right now so we decided on something like a franchise or a semi-franchise and we went for it. He took the store and furnished it and all that stuff and it was 100% percent a God given thing. And that is exactly what I felt right up to the point when I was standing in the store.

What are some of the qualities you need to start a business?

Well, I mean it depends on each and every business of course but the number one thing is to know that things are going to be hard, completely overlook that Steve Jobs dreamy view and just know that you have to love what you do, because in a lot of situations that’s all you are going to have. You are going to be broke, you’re not going to have time, you are going to have a lot of problems and all you are going to have left is the passion that you started with if there is no passion you will, YOU WILL let go. That’s the most important thing to have that hustle. Of course, you have to research you have to do all those boring things, of course, you need a team and all that stuff but that’s a given.

And a very important thing is, do not over dream and do not over think because if you have an idea your idea is something that hasn’t been tested yet so the most important thing is to put it out there, test it and see if it's going to have acceptance otherwise you are going to think and plan and read for like a whole year and when the time comes for you to throw the product out there, if people don’t like it you’re going to be crushed. So my advice is always to have an MVP (minimum viable product) which is to create a very small prototype of your product which tests the core functions.

What would be your advice to somebody who has an idea for a product/brand but is scared to take that first step?

Something that I always say is that you can never regret starting something but you will most definitely regret not starting it. That’s something you have to believe in and there’s a difference between being a thinker and being a doer, thinkers just think endlessly and they don’t do anything and that’s where those people are. If you keep thinking, you’re not going to have a product in the end.

I can’t emphasise enough on the importance of reading this book called “The Lean Start-up” it talks all about this concept of you wanting to start something by planning endlessly without actually experimenting, without actually asking people what they think, without putting out products to get critical feedback on. And this is what kills if you have a product just put it out there get the feedback you don’t even know if it’s a good idea, it might be a bad idea?

Looking forward what are some of your future aspirations in regards to Stabraq and your YouTube channel?

In the near future with regards to Stabraq, I will be expanding to different parts of the world because we do get orders from different parts of the world and we want to start capitalising on that. We are actually in the process of that right now, we would also want to take a couple more stores over here in Egypt maybe something in a mall.

With regards to YouTube, I’m just going to do what I do at the moment because right now it’s a one-man show. I’m looking to find sponsors and find somebody who can up my game a little bit.

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Special thanks to Hazem for taking the time out for an interview, check out their website to shop the latest collection: stabraq.com

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Author: Muhammad Yousuf Shuwekh

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4 Fashion Essentials For The Modern Muslim Man

We've teamed up with Instagram account @muslimmanstyle to bring you four must have fashion essentials for the Muslim man.

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Thawbs, Dishdashas, Kurtas and Shalwars. Clothing items for Muslim men are often typecasted under traditional clothing styles, fashioned over centuries in adherence to cultural norms and the Prophetic tradition. And quite frankly they look fantastic. The benefit of traditional clothing items like the thawb are that they perfectly fit the requisites for a Muslim man, they are generally loose fitting, not overly extravagant and you won't have to worry about that awkward sujood situation (yup, that one). 

However, with a generation of Muslims growing up in the western world there is the reality that our clothing choices will steer towards more contemporary garments. The fashion world isn't too far behind in this regard and as long as garments fit these few Islamic conditions you'll find plenty of items to empty your wallet for. Of course, clothing items can also be of benefit if they help to preserve some sort of Islamic identity, so we've gone ahead and put together four lists of trending clothing items for the modern Muslim man...

(Psst.. click the images in the gallery to visit the clothing websites)

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1) TOPS/KAMIS

With extended t-shirts becoming all the rage this past year we'd think kurtas would be a bit more mainstream. Anyhow, a variety of well-tailored Kamees are a useful addition to any wardrobe they provide adequate coverage of relevant 'areas' and are a welcome alternative to full-length Thawbs.

For a more minimalist and tailored vibe, the Subhi Taha and COS collections provide quality at a higher price bracket.

There are also quite a few online retailers stocking longer length body shirts, check out some of our recommendations below..

Shukr.com have a wide variety of more traditional Kamees available in various colours. You can grab one of their pieces for £44.95 and the black 'Ghazi Juba' for £64.95. 

KEEP IN MIND

- Keep it simple, block colours go a long way

- Look out for grandad/mandarin collars for a clean finish

- Try shortening your Kurta sleeves and layer with a long sleeve tee  

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2) TROUSERS

Cropped loose fitting trousers have become increasing popular over the last year, and they also happen to fall in line with a sunnah. There are a few variations available with slight differences in design while still providing that unique look. 

Emir store is a French independent clothing company who stock limited amounts of well-designed shirts and trousers. So be sure to be on the lookout for when they restock through their Instagram page.

KEEP IN MIND

- Relaxed or Slim fit trousers that finish mid to low calf

-  Go for a stretchy material, to help you with your daily wudhu gymnastics

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3) HEADWEAR

Kufis, beanies and the classic hat the perfect way to bring together an outfit. You can switch it up with a variety of designs. Simple colours with minimal design add that personal touch while adhering to another prophetic tradition.

KEEP IN MIND

- Popular at the moment are skull caps and beanies that sit above the ear.

- There are plenty of up and coming companies with their signature Arabic calligraphy caps. So you'll have a variety to choose from.

- Be sure to spin around your cap when going into Sujood to prevent getting knocked out while attempting Sajdah.

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4) ACCESSORIES

Add that finishing touch to a complete outfit with these accessories. Combs, Beard oils, bracelets, and shawls are all great ways to add that distinctive factor to your OOTD. 

Don't forget to keep the facial hair looking spick and span with a quality brush and the 'miraclous' Argan oil. Body Shop also stock argan oil in a solid form which can make application easier.

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Styling points

Layers are your best friend (especially in the winter).

Add the finishing touch to your outfit with a piece of subtle jewellery.

Make sure you have a substantial amount of WHITE SOCKS! (So underrated)

For a casual everyday look go for loose-fitting clothes and for a formal occasion go for slim fitting garments with a structured outer layer.

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Special thanks to @muslimmanstyle on Instagram for collaborating with us on this post. Be sure to follow his account for style inspiration and modest menswear.

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Redefining Modest Clothing With Mode-ste | Canada's Homegrown Clothing Store

Aicha Chtourou is the founder, CEO and creative director of her Montreal-based company Mode-ste. She started the small clothing company designing and making clothes in 2012 with her mother Hong Taing. It has now successfully expanded and along with her husband Bilal, who deals with PR and marketing, the brand has now grown from strength to strength.

They recently featured on Canada’s Dragons Den and have collaborated with fashion blogger Saufeeya Goodson alongside her TeenVogue feature. Mode-ste has also been featured in Malaysia’s largest newspaper and with The Globe and Mail. Here they give a glimpse into the running and inspiration behind their brand.

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Who or what are your main inspirations, and where do you find the most inspiration?

BILAL: I guess, Aicha can probably get into the design aesthetic more, myself, it’s kind of our environment, we were born and raised in Montreal, Canada, so we’re proud Canadians, proud Montrealers. So we draw inspiration from our surroundings and our context, that translates a lot into our garments because the idea is we want to make stuff that is modest and inclusive of all kind of women.

At the same time we wanted to have this western perspective and this western flair, because we’re fashion consumers here, we love Montreal, and we love the aesthetic of North America and Europe. That runs in our blood. We were born and raised here so what we’re trying to do is make clothes that are modest and at the same time have this western aesthetic. So yes, we draw inspiration from our context and our surroundings.

Are there any other designers, artists or people who influence your designs?

AICHA: We look at high fashion, so I’m really into at the moment The Row, I don’t know if your familiar with the Olsen Twins? Their line is something that I really like, over sized clothing.

BILAL: I mean yeah that’s where we draw our inspiration from and some of our influence, because again we’re very into fashion, we’re fashion nerds, we’re always on reddit.com or these kind of places. Off of the top of my head for me, for example, I love Marni and there’s a brand actually here in Montreal, they’ve made it to the world stage and high fashion - they’re called Want, they make luxury handbags, travel accessories, shoes, things like that so you know we kinda draw from multiple places, but we do have our definitive aesthetic that’s who we are, we’re having this mix and match and combining different influences around us to create something that is uniquely ours.

Do you feel that your clothing fits into a certain genre or does it delve into various genres?

BILAL: I think at a basis we are generally more on a minimalist kind of vibe, we don’t like too many embellishments or destroyed sweaters, you know with the holes, rips and stuff like that. Generally we tend to go towards minimalism but at the same time the design aesthetic is that we want to make clothes that are timeless, have a really nice cut and they always encompass different types of proportions or volumes so that you widen that fashion bubble, like fashion is accessible to most women but then there are women who need something more, and so we’re just expanding that fashion bubble, so that anybody can buy our clothes.

What three words would you use to describe your clothing line?

AICHA: Definitely fashion forward, high quality, so made in Canada, we like to focus on that because all of our garments are produced here in Montreal, and you know, for all women, any woman basically.

So how do you balance the quality over quantity?

BILAL: I think our unfair advantage is our consumer, our client is looking for something quality that they can wear more than once. The issue we had was a lot of the time you go to more fast fashion places and you throw it in the wash one time and it’s shrunk in half or there's lots of pilling on the fabric and things like that, so the way we balance is we’re making what our clients are asking for - and the interesting thing about Montreal is that in Canada it's like the fashion hub, so there is lots of room for growth, lots of room for expansion, as we start producing more volume, there’s lots of room in Canada, it is a good place to manufacture and its something that we’re interested in trying to move forward with.

Which piece in the collection was probably the most challenging to create and produce?

BILAL: For myself, it’s probably the Saufeeya collection. The Saufeeya collection we made with Saufeeya Goodson. We made like five different styles, we made them in limited quantities, and all at the same time. Usually, we’re, I would say slow on purpose, like we take time with our collections because we really wanna produce something high end and of good quality and with Saufeeya we wanted to obviously implement that to the next level, really control the production, make it in small batches.

But with that also comes more complications because you’re dealing with lower quantities, you’re dealing with multiple styles at one time and because we had Dragons Den going on at the same time as Saufeeya’s collection - and at the same time getting flown out to Malaysia for our new fashion show, we had been invited there to the opening of a store and launching of our collection in their store, we had many projects being juggled. I’d say just the Saufeeyah collection because a lot of thought, a lot of consideration, a lot of coordination had to go in.

AICHA: I would say the same, absolutely, it was a small period of time where we had to do a lot and Alhamdulillah we were able to have so much barakah in our time, but it was definitely challenging.

How did your opportunity to film Dragon’s Den come about?

BILAL: I’ll give you the short story, we actually had to move cities, I’m an environmental engineer and had gotten a job a few provinces away in Alberta and so I was working there, and me and Aicha we would binge watch Dragons Den on Netflix and eat pizza and we really got into the show, we saw the show, we saw the kind of companies that went on and we saw the American version called Shark Tank, we’ve seen the British version, I know it’s also called Dragons Den in the UK. And so we said, look, there are all these businesses that go on, we have what it takes, we have the product, we have the marketing and we have the numbers so let’s go for it.

Me and Aicha basically both took the plunge and quit our jobs and moved back to Montreal which is our hometown, to focus on Mode-ste full time. I just applied and the application got accepted a couple weeks later, they invited us to do an audition in front of the producers, and then we did the audition - instead of being five/ten minutes like they said it would take, they actually stayed with us for 45 minutes because they were so into our brand. And then from there we got invited a couple weeks later to actually go to the CBC headquarters - that’s like our BBC - they invited us to the CBC headquarters in Toronto and so we drove there with the whole team and pitched there to the Dragons.

Did you at anytime time feel intimidated while you were filming? Were there any challenges that you faced?

AICHA: We watched the show very often, we know the show, so when you watch it on TV it’s very different from actually being there in real life, there’s usually music and a narrator talking but when you get there, walking down the stairs you’re like this is it, you really have to get ready and start talking.

When you see them on TV they sound very nervous and we’re just like 'why are they so nervous?’ but you know we had that same feeling. It was a great experience and at the beginning, you’re a little bit shy but after you’re just really into it - and it’s just a really nice experience.

What did they love most about Mode-ste?

BILAL: To add on to what Aicha said, you’re speaking in front of the five most affluent and most celebrity investors that Canada has to offer so you’re nervous at the beginning and once you break the ice, they’re really cool and really nice so I guess it was different market for them, they had never seen it, and it was very new to them, they were impressed by our numbers and our company in general. They liked us.

Do you feel that your appearance on Dragon’s Den will encourage other Muslims to launch their own businesses, and realise that there is a market?

BILAL: I think the thing that we were shocked with, again, is because we’ve seen pretty much every episode or at least glanced at every episode, in 11 seasons of Dragons Den there’s never been an outwardly Muslim company. Again we don’t say that we’re selling muslim clothing, we’re a modest fashion brand that sells in an inclusive way.

It really the first time ever that there was a modest fashion brand so we’re hoping that a lot of people will take the initiative because it’s an amazing platform. It’s amazing media, it’s amazing exposure and you get a chance to speak to some really influential people.

Can you share one golden piece of advice that your mother has given you?

AICHA: To work hard and to believe in what you’re doing, because my mom has been sewing her entire career. It’s her true passion its what she loves and seeing her work so hard, it really inspires me to continue and drive. Just seeing her, you don’t have to say it, they say actions speak louder than words, and my whole life she has been that kind of woman that has been very strong and very hard working and that just motivates me to work harder everyday.

It’s been a dream to work with my mom, since I was a young child she was actually making my fur coats, I was kind of a doll for her because I was the only daughter, and so she would always make me some clothing and people would always ask her ‘oh where did you guys get this from it’s so cute’ and she would have fun doing that for me. So for me growing up with her making my clothing it was kind of, as they say, meant to be. It has always been a dream for me to work with my mom. We have a very strong relationship, we’re very close and it’s a blessing as well in my religion. Alhamdulillah I’ve been very fortunate.

How has each of you contributed to Mode-ste?

AICHA: I am the creative director behind the designs of the clothing. She is the master seamstress so both of us fit perfectly.

BILAL: Aicha takes care of design, aesthetic, the way the website looks, and really puts the vision in place. We all wear different caps and we wear multiple hats but that’s her general target. For me I'm the director of marketing strategy, I’m working on PR, I’m working on press, I’m working on our Instagram I took it from a few years ago from 5000 to 35000 organic followers and then I work on the branding itself, I help with the aesthetic and aiding design.

Then Danial who is my cousin has a couple stories of how we were able to hire him. He ended up being the best candidate. He takes care of accounting, financials, he’s the guy who can make the numbers look good.

My mother in law is head of quality assurance and she works on samples. Once we perfect those samples we can take them out for production in Montreal. Everybody plays a key part.

What would you say is most enjoyable about what you do?

AICHA: Passion. As I was saying, my mom, she's taught me this passion. When I see her working so hard I see the passion through her. Bilal has always been into fashion, but he had to let go of that and work in his field. Alhamdulillah we had an opportunity where we had the right people in place, so my mom, myself, and Bilal as well.

BILAL: Like Aicha was saying, the best thing about this business is that not only is it a great viable business, it makes money and its expanding, it is also our passion. We’re not savvy entrepreneurs like 'hey! Let's make a business because it makes money' we also really love and enjoy what we’re doing. The fact that we can work long hours and our direct effort is directly correlated to the success of the company, it’s amazing. We don’t have to work for someone and further their goal, you’re working for yourself and that’s probably the best part.

What were some of the major challenges you faced on bringing Mode-ste up on its feet?

BILAL: One of the challenges I would say generally is the amount effort you have to put in, you’re not just doing a 9 to 5 and then waiting for a pay check. The success of what you’re doing depends directly on you. There's more added pressure, but then again that’s actually a positive, if you look at it the other way there’s this pressure to make your baby, or your company grow. I guess that would be a challenge which is a positive in and of itself. Another challenge is just being consistent and persistent, that’s a huge deal in our religion, is to do things with consistency so once you’ve mastered that I feel like you can get anywhere no matter what you’re working on.

Have you any collaborations coming up?

BILAL: We have some that are inshaAllah ready for 2017, which is, inshaAllah going to be a really big year for us with the momentum of Dragons Den and the national press and media, so those we, unfortunately, can't share right now, but what we can say is that we’re a company that is focused on innovation and we want to bring something new to the table, we don’t want to just make nice clothes and take nice photos, we want to make beautiful creative content whether that’s videography or photography or documentaries. We want to work with inspiring people so inshaAllah you can expect a lot from 2017.

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Mode-ste ship worldwide and have multiple stockists so be sure to grab yourself a piece!

mode-ste.com

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Author: Aaliyah Green

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Eco-Hijab: Ethical Fashion Tips For Every Muslimah

Every now and then, I come across a dress or an outfit that I really like but I’m not sure about buying it; many people would call it 'un-Islamic' or against 'religious values'. But over the years, I’ve mastered some amazing hacks to actually make these pretty outfits more wearable for us, Hijabi ladies. Whether the dress is too short or too revealing, you can pretty much always find a way around it and make it look like the most modest outfit that you’ve ever seen. The same goes for all those girls who are new to modest fashion - there’s no need to throw out all your old clothes and go around looking for new ones. We can still wear our favourite outfits, as all they need is a little modification.

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Altering Your Outfit

Let’s start with dresses that are too short. If you are good at stitching then this is a pretty simple DIY and if not then you can seek professional help from a tailor. Ruffles can make any dress look cuter and at the same time they add length to your outfit. Sewing ruffles isn’t such a big deal and I feel you can learn it in just a day by watching a few video tutorials.

If you’re not a fan of ruffles, there are still a number of other options available such as lace or net. Not all of us can afford a complete wardrobe change. So if you have any old t-shirts that you feel that you can no longer wear, turn them into quirky scarves to go with your hijabs.

For dresses without sleeves; you again have the option of either stitching them on or just wearing a t-shirt under it. You can see that as a fashionable hijabi, you pretty much have to make layers your best friend.

Go Green

Being ethical includes the responsibility of caring for the environment, which is also a part of our religious obligations. At the same time, we are also told by our religion to always choose a moderate path, so while there’s no need to act like a miser, we also don’t have to waste our money unnecessarily. 

This is where the thrift stores come in; I find them to be a perfect place for hijabis as we can find some awesome second-hand items here. Set a monthly budget for yourself and when you go shopping always make the thrift stores your first priority as this way you won’t be wasting any money and will also be playing your part for the environment. Also, don’t forget to recycle your old outfits and hijabs. When you’re done wearing any of them, you can either sell them at a thrift store or just start a hijab swapping community with your friends and family.

Focus More on the Hijab

Instead of focusing on your outfit, try to focus on your hijab more as a nicely matched and well-styled hijab can make all the difference. You don’t need to invest in a lot of hijabs as well. Just make sure you have a few solid neutrally coloured hijabs that can go with most of your outfits.

Add some variety

Buy hijab accessories so you can give a different look to the same hijab every time. Experiment with different hijab styles as there are hundreds of them and try coming up with your own signature style. Choose a hijab that goes well with your skin tone and one last thing, always make sure that the hijab style that you choose, complements your face shape as your hijab can work as well as some of the best contouring kits in the world.

As hijabis, we are all blessed with this willingness to adhere to our religious values, and this also gives us the unique ability to be able to think outside the box. So use this ability wisely and creatively when it comes to ethical fashion. Let’s just promise ourselves that we’ll never feel that a modest outfit restricts us in any way and that we’ll continue to shine in our beautiful hijabs!

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Author: Sarah Ghanem

Sarah is a hijabista and fashion consultant. She is really keen on modern, but modest Muslim wear for women, and she’s always trying out new hijab styles and trends.

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5 Awesome Brands For The Fashion Conscious Muslimah

The pressure is on for the contemporary Muslimah, how can she be modest but still express her individuality? Muslim women are at the forefront of this new challenge, designing and producing unique clothing instead of relying on high street stores.The clothing is modern, inspired and unique. Versatile clothing not only restricted to Muslimahs.

Have a look at these five awesome brands for the fashion conscious Muslimah..

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1. Inayah

Inayah is a popular and cult brand that has gained a massive following. Their designs are full of classic cuts and simple elegance. Elements of florals, vintage accents and soft hues make irresistible pieces. The clothing feels modern and the selection of headscarves means whatever piece you choose is sure to match any outfit.

Inaya Web

The clothing is versatile and stylish, with a minimalist vibe and simple silhouettes. These are timeless pieces that can be worn again and again and mixed with your current clothing.

Left: The Olive Maxi Jersey Hijab is a bestseller (and sold out along with many other scarves) Practical and simple it is a worthwhile addition to any wardrobe. Right: On the pricier side of £29.99 this silver pure silk scarf is luxury. Perfect for anyone who wants to add a special touch to an outfit.

Inayah is in the mid price range, reasonably priced for good quality and carefully designed clothing. Of course following the care label instructions will increase the longevity of your garments.

2. Dina Torkia Debut Collection

YouTuber Dina Torkia is much loved for her individual and innovative fashion sense. Dina has already released a line of headscarves inspired by her Egyptian heritage and gorgeous ombre dip dyed scarves that were an instant hit. Also newly released and a complete sell out is her Debut Collection. Keep two eyes out for her next collection and claim yourself a unique garment.

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The campaign photos are a delight to look at, professional, creative and colourful, Dina's clothing is not for the hijabi only but every woman.

The website has a simple straightforward layout, with all the clothing well categorised. Dina has a great modern looking website that is well designed and easy to navigate.

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3. Anna Hariri

Anna Hariri is a modest clothing atelier. Although on the pricier side, Anna's designs are classic and handmade from high end luxury fabrics. She offers beautiful dresses in gorgeous patterns, sell out skirts, and abayas inspired by traditional and modern design. If you want guaranteed quality and long lasting pieces look no further.

An abaya inspired by a modern colour block design. The neutral colours work perfectly togethers.

The Anna Hariri website is busy to look at with most of the clothing displayed on the home page. Special offers and a loyalty scheme is available, such as buy two pieces and get the third free. A great way to plan Eid or wedding outfits, for both you and the family.

4) Aab

The fourth brand we reviewed is an East Shopping Mall favourite, Aab Collection, a prestigious yet affordable high street brand specifically catering to the modest market. With friendly service and convenient worldwide shipping, it's obvious why Aab pieces have become a closet gem.

The contemporary modest clothing company stock a range of jersey and chiffon hijab's as well as a variety of abayas, formal trousers and accessories.

The average price of an abaya falls around the £50.00- £150.00 mark and my personal favourites would have to include the Mulberry Sunset Pink dress and Neroli abaya for their simplicity and class. If you don't have an abaya from Aab in your wardrobe why are you still reading this? Head over to their website or visit their London Boutique on Green Street, I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

5) Subeena Z

Modest fashion doesn’t exclude the high end luxury attire of our flawless fashionista counterparts, often striving for an audacious yet effortlessly opulent evening look.

Islamically, it’s crucial modesty is observed in all aspects of our appearance, which contemporary couture designer Subeena Z certainly advocates. “Simplicity inspires me” she explains, highlighting that modesty doesn’t necessarily need to be compensated with overtly extravagant embroidery. “Personally I don’t mind sparkle, but I felt like sometimes it can be too in your face, my clientele are people who understand less is more”. Certainly, from her best selling garments The Annie and The Maleeha, it’s not hard to see what she means.

Based in Chicago, Subeena Z definitely appeals to our international audience in search of something truly spectacular.“I design for women who don’t mind being the centre of attention” and with pieces ranging from $180-$360, you certainly get what you pay for. Subeena loves to work with chiffon and silk as they subtly scream ‘elegant yet daring’, complimenting the Inayah hijab collection perfectly. Orders are strictly by email subeenaZ@gmail.com and more of her incredible designs can be viewed on Instagram @SubeenaZ or at selected fashion exhibits up and down the US, most recently showcasing at the ISNA exhibit.

 Authors: Aaliyah Green & Sara Zubair

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And thus concludes the list of the Top Islamic Clothing Brands. Please note that this post is a compilation and not a ranked list, all brands have their great qualities and we feel that fashion in particular is a personal choice based on individual ideas.

Please do check out all listed sites and support this every growing section of Muslim commerce. If you have enjoyed this post feel free to share it! If this is your first time checking out BAHATH have a look at our ABOUT page to learn more about us!

5 Awesome Brands For the Fashion Conscious Muslim

Islamic clothing has long been categorised to be long tunics and sandy coloured turbans, that very well may be the case for many. But for the 21st century Muslim living in the West clothing for them means something slightly different. Young Muslim minds have come up with a new genre of fashion. The "Islamically inspired" clothing market has come on leaps and bounds in this generation. But like many a market, this genre has become extremely saturated. So I've decided to, with the help of the brand owners themselves, create a blog post compiling and profiling the five best Islamic clothing brands. You've got to check them out!

We've updated this list for 2018, once you've had a read through this article check out our latest update by clicking: HERE

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The first clothing brand on our list is PureXI, I love the idea behind this brand it brings a breath of fresh air to its genre. The concept behind this brand stands alone in its field. PureXI bases its design on a visionary idea, a fusion of Arab aesthetics and neo Tokyoite culture.

The brand also is unique in its approach to its clientele. Although the designs incline towards Islamic quotes and art it doesn't limit itself to Muslims. The brand is flexible enough to appeal to an Islamic market but still be relevant in mainstream fashion.

"Fashion is always changing, and although we may go in line with some trends, we also dabble in trend-setting as well"

Clothing is available for purchase worldwide through the online store purexi.com. The website feels smooth to navigate and is beautifully designed. The information and labeling are clear, and most importantly the products look great!

I love the brand's identity and originality, they have a strong message and aim behind their clothing which translates perfectly into their art. 

"The aim is to give the Islamic inspired clothing scene a much needed fresh face that can be adopted by muslims and non-muslims alike. It's about delivering a strong spiritual message of positivity that can be taken in by anyone without any tainted preconceived notions that can alter our viewpoint of cultures and societies"

They are definitely worth checking out.

2) 5ivePillars

The second brand on the list is 5ivePillars. If you haven't heard of these guys you've probably been living under a rock, in fact, you probably are a rock. 5ivePillars started out in the US and has steadily grown into a powerhouse of this field, simply put when you think of Islamically inspired fashion you think of 5ivePillars.

The brand was founded by two young Muslims Farrukh and Zeshan, the latter being a graphic designer. Their inspiration for designs seems to be a mixture of Islam (particularly the golden age of geometrical art) and the more recent Islamic inspired pop culture scene such as items based on the great Muhammad Ali. Out of all the brands listed, it seems 5ivePillars has the largest array of items available. This includes Tees, Hoodies, Beanies, Socks, Posters, Phone cases and even Tasbeeh bracelets. It is a testament to their success that they can operate on such a wide scale.

 One thing 5ivePillars do very well is their ability to market their products in relation to there consumers. We have seen YouTube personality's wearing there clothing including Qias Omar and The Mahmood Brothers. What also helps tremendously in their marketing is the great photography that they manage to churn out, on both their Instagram accounts and Look-Book.

some very impressive stuff, their spring collection is currently available and they also have some items up for sale. You know what to do.. 5ivePillars.com

3) Ikhwaa

Ikhwaa is another clothing brand that leans towards a unique concept. What stands out at first about Ikhwaa is the websites layout and graphic design. The site's design is very well thought out which means navigation and labelling is clear as well as user-friendly.

This inevitably translates into the clothing designs, and they have some real cool stuff.

Cliche design ideas are less prominent in their range of clothing. As with most brands in this genre Palestine-related garments are always made available, yet Ikhwaa puts an original spin on this idea. This is a testament to the artwork which is well thought out and refreshing.

One of the more recognizable clothing items is the "PRAY Tee" a spin on the popular OBEY clothing brand. I personally recognised it due to a certain high profile Muslim celebrity.

It's great to see Islamic clothing being adopted by a mainstream celebrity. The ability to reach out and garner attention to their product highlights the great work they are doing.

Another great thing about Ikhwaa is that 10% of all profits are donated to charity. Make sure you check them out ... I know I will.

4) ByZayd

The fourth clothing brand on this list is "ByZayd", the brand started out on the east coast of the US by a guy called Zayd I assume. Jokes aside ByZayd is another example of astute business ownership in the Muslim community with an array of designs available in sweatshirt and T-Shirt form.

The site is very well put together and has a very classy feel to it. The photography on this website really encapsulates the ideals of this brand.

"byZayd has a concept of bringing urban Islamic clothing to the forefront, infusing Islamic art designs with urban chic fashion"

They have some great original pieces in both Arabic and English artwork. What is also great about their products is that they have also considered women in their design ideas, most brands tend to focus on male or unisex apparel and so their approach is refreshing. Some pieces that I really liked where the "Legit Hijabi Tee" and the "Al-Aqsa Tee".

They have around a dozen designs up for sale each with a cool and unique spin on them, ByZayd also has a policy of donating 10 percent of all sales to charity. Checkout their site you wont regret it!

5) Al Ghuraba

The final clothing brand is Al Ghuraba. The name translates to "The Strangers" in reference to a Hadith by Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Their winter collection is still currently available, consisting of an array of products including sweatshirts, tees and beanies.

It seems inspiration for designs is not lacking in this genre with Al Ghuraba being another example of this. They have some cool original pieces which are available in sweatshirt and T-Shirt form. Their products are minimal with only around ten items available for purchase, but that doesn't take away from the clothing which is beautifully done.

Not only are their products impressive but their operations seems to be too. According to their page, the company operates out of three major cities in London, The Hague and Los Angeles, Meaning this company ships WORLDWIDE. The website is simplistically designed allowing for ease of access and purchase, an ideal which can sometimes be lost by others in the pursuit of a snazzy web page.

Most importantly the brands ideals are driven by Islamic values which they hope to translate into their work

"We are an Islam inspired men's clothing brand. Aimed at providing products that remind ourselves of our Islamic duties, values and principles. With the hope to strengthen our Islamic identity"

 I would definitely recommend checking them out!

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And thus concludes the list of the top Islamic clothing brands. Please note that this post is a compilation and not a ranked list, all brands have their great qualities and we feel that fashion, in particular is a personal choice based on individual ideas. Please do check out all listed sites and support this every growing section of Muslim commerce. 

Author: Muhammad Shuwekh

Enjoy this Article? Please feel free to share it on your social media, Also don't forget to give us some feedback. We are on FB , Twitter and Instagram!

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Check out our updated 2018 list below...