Islamic Fashion Set to Be the Next Big Thing

  

“Islamic fashion is also not just restricted to Muslims. As with the burqini, which has gained popularity amongst non-Muslims, Muslim styles have begun to influence European street fashion.”  See the full article, describing the impact of the Muslim fashion industry (estimated to be worth at least $96 billion!) at ForeignPolicy.com.

(the pics?  The Samarkand Tunic and the 9 to 5 Jersey Cardigan from Shukr)

 

Keeping Your Scarf On in Church

Al-Hannah sells a pretty lacy al-amirah hijab that I think an Orthodox Christian could reasonably use as a headcovering.  My thought is that a non-Muslim woman might wear the larger part of the covering on the back of the head, rather than surrounding the face.

How would this work?  The front section, the part on the forehead, is completely separate from the larger covering section.  You put it on first — around your head, above the eyebrows and ears — and it helps to keep whatever you put on second from slipping off your head.  After you have this first part around your head, you could eschew the larger part altogether and tie a regular scarf on in whatever way you usually prefer.  Or you could use the longer tube thing, the second part of the al-amira headcovering, as a back-of-the head scarf.  

If you’re reading this and you’re not an Orthodox Christian, you’ll find a discussion here (and here) at Monachos.net about the practice of covering your head in church. 

(photo credit to Josh Parrish)

 

HijabiCaps

I love these pretty headcoverings!  From Al Muhajaba El Aniqa.

 

Headcovering in Nesterov’s Dual Harmony

  Mikhail Nesterov painted this preliminary study for the princess of his “Dual Harmony” painting.  

Though this way of wearing a headcovering is similar to the scarf + underscarf style adopted by many Muslim women today, note that the princess’ ear is showing and many if not most Muslim women who wear hijab choose to cover their ears.

I love the way this looks.

(Thank you, Vara, for providing a good copy of this picture!)

 

Catholic Finds Freedom in Hijab

Stella White is a British Catholic who has adopted the hijab.  She loves it, noting that she is thankful that she has the freedom to choose to wear the hijab or not.

(photo credit to indigo goat)

 

Hijab Scarf How-to on YouTube

I like the scarf style that Jan chooses to wear for her first day wearing hijab.  Adding a couple more twisted scarves in contrasting colors to the crown makes it an even better look, in my opinion.

 

More Ukrainian Postage

 

Ukrainian Postage Stamps: Head-dress

 

Reverse Glass Paintings by Jaroslav Adamovich

All Things Ukrainian offers these cool Reverse Glass Paintings by Jaroslav Adamovich.  They are  painted on the back side of the glass. 

I bet that makes you wonder about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, doesn’t it?  According to one website, one of the accomplishments of Ukrainian Orthodox Christians was that they converted scripture and the liturgy into Slavonic which made it more accessible to the people.  And here’s an interesting site:  Ukrainian Orthodoxy.

(the painting shown is called “Wedding Preparations”)

 

Sarah Ansari: On Faith, Fashion and Finding Common Ground

 ”What does a modest dressing woman stand for? Regardless of faith, she stands for the belief that a woman should be appreciated for her intellect and not valued for the shape of her body. In electing to cover herself, she is not oppressed: She is empowered.  She challenges people around her to look past her exterior, to the strength and beauty that lies within. To me this notion transcends geography, religion and culture. Women have long fought the battle for equality but so long as their worth as individuals is based on the superficial - youth, beauty, sexuality -the value of their human capital is undermined …” 

 An essay at the International Museum of Women by Sarah Ansari, founder of Artizara Clothing.

(photo credit to wiseacre photo)