When we first covered our favourite Islamically inspired clothing brands way back in 2015 the industry was teetering between a mix of screen printed Gildan tees and generic Arabic text clothing items.
It’s 2018 now, and with clothing brands popping up left, right and centre and brands improving designs and providing greater quality materials we decided we would wade through the plethora of brands once again, to bring you an updated list for the new year.
This time around we’ve gone for a varied selection of brands, from higher-end fashion to pop culture-inspired streetwear. We are super excited to share with you the fantastic brands we have discovered and we hope it’s a fair demonstration of the creativity and variety we have in our community.
1) Next Ummah
Kicking off the list is Next Ummah, they stock a variety of streetwear items inspired by a mix of Islam and pop culture. Supreme, Drake and Malcolm X all feature in their designs and provide a welcome opportunity for young Muslims to rep their Islamic ideals with a touch of their western upbringing. One of the guiding principles behind Next Ummah is to provide an avenue for young Muslims to rep their religion and feel proud of who they are.
“Clothing can be an important part of who we are and what people think of us. We want to make it easy to rep Islam by providing clever or catchy designs that elicit a reaction”
Their designs are innovative and refreshing with bold designs and quirky images particularly on their graphic tees. Some of their standout designs include the ‘Sunnah’ tee, ‘Malcom X Men’ tee and my personal favourite a Muslim American rendition of the famed art piece ‘American Gothic’. Alongside the above-mentioned items, they also stock hats, sweaters and long sleeve tees.
“We started this clothing line after noticing that options were limited for Muslims who wanted to express themselves with clothing. Brands were either poorly designed with corny references to Islam or had little or only vague reference to Islam. We feel that Next Ummah reaches a comfortable middle ground…We really love the idea of reimagining trends or icons with an Islamic paradigm. You’ll see that from a lot of our products”
Launched in 2016 Next Ummah have done a wonderful job of putting together a solid collection and although it isn’t the largest collection on the list with their creative eye and originality I would expect them to be expanding with new items in the near future.
2) PaliRoots
Founded in 2016, PaliRoots is a brand centered on sharing the beauty of Palestinian culture with the world, with particular emphasis on doing so through artistic expression rather than overtly political overtones. In developing the idea for their brand, brother and sister Hussein and Aminah Musa realized that most media attention paid to Palestine deals with war, and they wished to mark a shift with their brand towards expressions which highlighted non-political aspects of Palestinian culture such as its textile, architecture and agricultural production, through their products. Overall, they strive to provide an excellent customer experience coupled with novel, high-quality products which reflect the many beautiful aspects of Palestinian heritage.
Amongst many notable qualities which distinguish this brand is its commitment to charitable works which directly affect the lives of the Palestinian people. This past fall, through partnerships with Zam Zam Water and the Middle Eastern Children’s Alliance, the PaliRoots team gathered winter clothing and over 1,500 backpacks and hygiene kits from a Palestinian factory and personally distributed them to over 1,000 kids living in Gaza. It’s always heartwarming to see Muslim companies supporting their brothers and sisters and the extra touch of personal effort makes these actions even more beautiful.
With regards to PaliRoots’ products, offerings range anywhere from keffiyehs produced by the Hirbawi factory, the last such factory in Palestine, to refreshingly minimalist jewellery and caps to organic soaps and maps of Palestine. The diversity and originality of their products are indeed their strongest points and they somehow manage to outdo themselves with each new collection.
Success for PaliRoots only continues with the release of their newest collection, called “Filistin”. Check it out in this awesome lifestyle video below!
3) AL’CAL
Indonesian based brand AL'CAL was quite the unique find, a mix between high street fashion and traditional Islamic menswear. They stock a range of really well tailored smart casual shirts alongside a multi-coloured collection of ‘Miki’ or brimless skull caps which double as a contemporary alternative to the Masjid kufi.
AL'CAL have done a great job in creating a clothing range that is current but also seeks to maintain timeless Islamic guidelines on modesty and simplicity. Personally, as a fan of minimalist clothing I love the mix between the sharp tailoring but also casual elements to their collection such as the kimono variation that they stock.
If you’re looking for trendy but also purposefully designed clothing we’d definitely recommend checking out AL’CAL. At this current time in order to purchase items from their collection you’ll need to set up an account through the LINE.me app.
4) TwelvePieces
A potent player in the streetwear industry, TwelvePieces was founded by 24-year-old fashion designer Amir Hassan in 2013. Hassan, a Dane by citizenship and an Egyptian by birth, developed a passion for sculpting and drawing from a young age under inspiration from his father and later combined this with his emerging love for fashion, graduating from the VIA Design School in 2017.
With regards to his brand, his message is simple yet potent – in designing clothes which he believes are pure expressions of his heritage and influences, he seeks to inspire others to stand proud for who they are and what they believe in. Amir’s vision has thus far been extremely successful, with his line appearing on catwalks as well as in editorials from magazines such as Buzzfeed, Vogue and Hypebeast, and we’re definitely excited to see what the future has in store for him.
With regard to TwelvePiece’s product line, Hassan produces what he calls “capsule collections”: limited-availability collections comprised of 12 styles of 12 pieces, with each piece appropriately labeled 1-12, which are based upon a particular story or theme. His previous collection, “The Spring” centered on capturing the rebelliousness of the Arab Spring whilst his latest collection, “Roots”, concerns itself with representing his hometown of Cairo, Egypt, and encapsulating values of freedom and brotherhood as well as the positive aspects of Egypt’s rich cultural heritage.
TwelvePiece’s current collection includes tees, sweaters, hats, socks, bags and more and we love the boldness of their cuts and graphic art, indeed a staple in streetwear design. Though the pieces themselves are modeled by men on the website, these pieces can easily be incorporated into either male or female streetwear wardrobes.
5) Halal Socks
Perhaps our quirkiest featured brand, HalalSocks was founded in 2017 by husband and wife Shehryar and Sara Qureshy, who are based in Toronto, Canada. In searching for socks to give to her husband as an Eid gifts, Sara eventually threw in the towel after hours of scanning the internet and not finding a single pair of socks related to Islamic holidays. Later on, she came up with her own creative designs, which her husband enthusiastically endorsed and mocked up on Photoshop, and the rest is history.
Influenced by Canada’s inclusivity, the couple most enjoys their work’s purpose of celebrating Muslim culture through fresh and fun designs and in doing so, contribute to the fight against Islamophobia. Thus far, their message has reached as far as the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau himself, who upon being gifted a pair by the couple, wore them on two public occasions. Additionally, they donate 5% of every sale to the Islamic Relief Worldwide Charity, further contributing to helping the Muslim community in every way possible.
HalalSocks are made from fine, combed cotton and are available in an array of colors and designs, including those featuring mosques, crescent moons, shawarma and more! Recently, they’ve begun producing fun pocket squares as well and we look forward to seeing how this new line from them develops alongside their sock collection in the years to come.
And that concludes our list! Thanks for checking out the article, be sure to visit their websites and help support this awesome sector of Muslim commerce. If you have any suggestions of alternative brands that should have made the list comment down below and perhaps they'll be featured in the next article.
Special mention to Tyler from @themuslimmale our ever-present fashion expert for working with us on this post be sure to check out his page for all the latest on fashion and clothing.
The Muslim Male
Fashion Inspiration For The Modern Muslim
Authors: Tyler Mallari, Muhammad Shuwekh
Bundled Up | 5 Men’s Picks For The Winter Season
Tyler Mallari AKA @themuslimmale is back with another article, this time covering the top clothing essentials for the winter season.
With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season coming to a close, our brothers in style have been busy scouring the net and their local shops for deals on the hottest winter styles. Though we’ve all probably got a few key pieces on our mind already, we at Bahath and The Muslim Male wanted to share our top picks for the winter season which we feel are perfect for the modern Muslim dude. Feel free to comment and share with us your own winter staples!
1) Fisherman Beanie
Originally developed to keep the heads of seafaring men nice and snug, these knit beanies have become more prominent on the streets than on the seas, featured on the heads of celebrities and streetwear enthusiasts alike.
[Images: asos.com]
For the average Muslim dude, trudging through icy winds and even snow and arriving at perhaps a similarly chilly mosque is never a fun experience and what we personally love about these beanies is that they double as both everyday wear and a stylish, yet nearly identical, alternative to the kufi. For those brothers who are looking to change up their look without bothering about changing between “work appropriate” and “Islamic” headwear, look no further! These beanies are best found online or in store for quite cheap through popular fast fashion sellers such as ASOS, H&M and Forever 21 and are available in colours suitable to literally any wardrobe.
For a sleek and understated look, try pairing a black beanie with a long black overcoat, a plain sweater in white, black, grey or a muted colour and a clean pair of minimal trainers like Adidas Superstars. For an edgier look, try a colourful beanie with a field or bomber jacket with torn, light denim and your favourite boots or high-cut sneakers. Finally, for a modern twist on traditional, try a muted beanie with a slim-cut kurta over slim, cropped chinos and penny loafers.
2) Overcoat
A staple for modern officewear, the overcoat is an instantly slimming winter option that will set you apart easily from the average unshapen parka -wearing businessman as well as the slew of youth adorned with bomber jackets.
Overcoats are definitely investment pieces and therefore should be shopped for carefully. Keep in mind that since these are designed to fit your suit jacket under, the size of your overcoat should be one size larger (i.e. if you wear a size 38 jacket, your overcoat should be size 40). Key details to look for in a quality overcoat include a slim but not suffocating cut, high armholes and quality stitching.
[Images: suitsupply.com]
Though these are typically meant to be worn over formal or business casual wear, they also look fantastic over casual and traditional wear, hence being a perfect piece for a minimal or capsule wardrobe.
For a casual look, try pairing a camel overcoat with a white, black or grey sweater, grey slacks and minimal sneakers. For a polished traditional look, try one in navy over a tailored white or black thobe, finished off with black oxfords or tassel loafers. The same can be achieved with a white or black kurta with matching shalwar or churidar.
3) Longline Sweater
Perhaps the most stereotypically “Muslim” of all the modern trends we’ve seen, the longline trend, featuring tees, shirts, sweaters and even coats in extended lengths, is still going strong and offers a vast array of pieces that can be used as alternatives to thobes and kurtas.
[Images: asos.com]
This season, we recommend longline sweaters, whether in crewneck, v-neck, cardigan or hoodie form, primarily as pieces which add an interesting middle layer or as statements on their own. ASOS stocks these in several styles and H&M typically has at least a couple sweater styles cut in longline during the colder months.
When styling longline sweaters, keep in mind that the drape of the sweater should be the main point of interest for the outfit, with colors, accessories and other layers being made simple in order to prevent visual confusion.
4) Dark Denim
Tried and true, dark denim is perhaps the most versatile of all menswear bottoms and can be mixed in with outfits that are sporty, rugged, classic, polished and all in between.
These pieces are widely available both in stores and online and quality pairs can be found in any price range. As with shopping for any jeans, inspect the quality of the seam stitching and ideally avoid any embellishing or fraying in order to maintain dark denim’s understated elegance. Additionally, look for between 2-3% spandex in the material for a fit that feels as comfortable as your track bottoms.
[Images: apc.fr, hespokestyle.com, bedstu.com]
For a workwear look, pair with a beanie, dark denim jacket, thick crewneck sweater and either cargo pants or denim in a different dark shade. For a streetwear look, wear with a ballcap, bomber jacket, longline shirt or sweater and relaxed light or dark denim.
5) Timberlands
A favourite for our brothers on the East Coast of the U.S., Timbs have been winter spales for streetwear enthusiasts since the early 2000s. Since these are statement pieces, especially in their trademark wheat shade, and at best casual footwear to be worn to social gatherings, Timbs are best suited to workwear or streetwear-inspired looks and should never be mixed in with formal or even smart casual wear unless snow levels are truly impassable otherwise. For those of you who aren’t quite a fan of the wheat shade, Timbs are also available in shades of brown, grey, black and even green!
[Images: theidleman.com, onpointfresh.com ]
For a workwear look, pair with a beanie, dark denim jacket, thick crewneck sweater and either cargo pants or denim in a different dark shade. For a streetwear look, wear with a ballcap, bomber jacket, longline shirt or sweater and relaxed light or dark denim.
Outfits
Now that we’ve introduced our picks, here’s some inspo to keep you bundled up right, featuring some of our favourite stylish brothers:
[Images:menwithstreetstyle - instagram.com, hakim_k_ - instagram.com, oakandfortman - instagram.com, samsouky - instagram.com, zaahidma - instagram.com, timberland.com, dapperstreetstyle.com, theclassyissue.com, mensfashionfabric.tumblr.com]
Special thanks to Tyler from @themuslimmale on Instagram for collaborating with us on this post. Be sure to follow his account for style inspiration and modest menswear.
Covered: The Long and Short Of Men’s Thobes
A true staple in the modern Muslim man’s wardrobe, the thobe has received much love from Arabs and non-Arabs alike, with mosque-goers enjoying its versatility and ample coverage during prayer. In this article, we at Bahath and The Muslim Male will introduce the main thobe styles and offer tips on how to style them. Though thobes are typically worn as part of a full traditional outfit, there’s absolutely no reason why you can’t get creative and create your own signature look with thobes mixed with Western pieces. It’s all about ingenuity here and no matter which side of the fashion spectrum you fall on, we’re sure that there’s a Thobe out there for you!
Long-Sleeved Thobes
(Images: al-faizan.com, tobybyhatem.com, jay1milion on instagram.com, Abdulqadir Abuukar lookook.nu)
This style typically comes to mind when the word thobe is mentioned amongst our sartorially-minded brothers. This long sleeved, often white, garment is native to the Arabian Gulf, where natives can even distinguish which Gulf state an individual may be from depending on the cut and collar styles (for example, Saudi thobes are often very tailored with a two-button mandarin collar, whereas Emirati thobes are loosely cut with a rounded collar and tassel).
Traditionally, these thobes are worn by themselves with only an undershirt and either loose sirwal pants or a wrapped izar loincloth underneath and with a headscarf known as a ghutra as an accessory, which is either wrapped in a small turban or secured in a multitude of styles by a rough headband called an “egal”. In the Arabian Gulf, thobe-wearing is a matter of pride and native Khaleejis usually have their thobes and ghutras ironed and vary the colours of both depending on the season.
Thankfully, due to the versatility of these thobes, typically lightweight and unpatterned, they make amazing layering pieces and can also be embellished with their own unique designs, hence making modern looks easy. Wear alone with loafers, a great watch and designer shades for a fun warm-weather look while for a more winter-ready formal look, try layering under a camel or black overcoat and pairing it with sharp Chelsea boots. For a more edgy look, layer under an olive military coat with faded jeans and chunky Doc Martens. It should also be noted that this thobe style pairs easier with streetwear trends as opposed to the two following styles, so rocking one over slim joggers and Yeezys would also be an awesome twist on traditional.
zaahidma on instagram.com
These thobes are in abundance online and can easily be found at a cheap price through any online men’s Islamic clothing brand as well as on eBay, though more tailored versions are sold by brands such as Al Faizan. Try finding them with as little polyester as possible (ideally 50% or less) to avoid looking too shiny and try standard cut thobes first, as slim-cut thobes can be difficult to walk in.
Short-Sleeved Thobes
(Images: ebay.com, theislamicestablishment.com, aliexpress.com)
Short-sleeved thobes, often referred to as kanduras or gandouras in their native North Africa, are great casual options for warmer weather or at home and are typically found in either single-button mandarin or v-neck styles. Additionally, they typically come in a wide variety of prints and having a few of these in your closet can add great variety to your thobe collection.
Though they are traditionally worn as daywear or homewear, they can also easily be dressed up for a smart casual ensemble that will stand out amidst untailored shalwar sets typically seen at mosque events. For daywear, pair any patterned or unpatterned kandura with quality leather sandals and a casual watch while for a smart casual look, pair an unpatterned, dark-colored kandura with loafers and a formal watch. Additionally, an interesting, layered look for the cooler seasons could be achieved through pairing with a knee-length or longer black or navy overcoat with black dress boots, with the addition of a newsboy cap or slouchy beanie for a more trendy take.
While these thobes are not as easily found as the previous styles are, they do abound on eBay and can be had for around half the price of a long-sleeved thobe.
Hooded Djellabas
(Images: trekearth.com, YUMEworld on etsy.com, toa.st, jubbathobe.com)
Easily the most distinctive type of thobe, the djellaba, native to Morocco, is a long-sleeved, hooded garment typically made out of cotton or heavy wool in a variety of vibrant colors in either plain or striped patterns. It’s easily the best thobe option for the Fall/Winter season, as its hood gives adequate protection on a rainy day and its loose cut allows for layering multiple short and long-sleeved pieces underneath.
To wear the djellaba in traditional Moroccan style, wear with a sirwal, a plain undershirt, Moroccan babouche slippers and either a fez or short turban as headwear. For a more formal Moroccan look, substitute the undershirt, sirwal and babouche and with a crisp dress shirt, slacks and either oxfords or tassel loafers.
To rock the djellaba as a smart-casual piece, pair with dark, slim-cut jeans, slip-on loafers and a quality watch. For a youthful look, try torn jeans and chunky boots with a beanie and leather cuff bracelet as accessories. Also, once the warm weather rolls around again, the djellaba would make for perfect beachwear over plain swim trunks and sandals, topped off with your favourite sunglasses.
Online, brands such as Shukr and Al Hannah Islamic Clothing often carry djellaba or djellaba-inspired hooded thobes, though your best bet quality-wise would be to grab one on your next trip to Morocco or have a Moroccan friend cop one for you!
We hope you enjoyed our overview of the world of thobes and can’t wait to see how our favorite brothers rock them in new ways this winter season. Comment below and tell us how you like to rock your thobes!
Author: Tyler Hussain Mallari
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Special thanks to Tyler from @themuslimmale 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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