Vogue Arabia’s new cover features supermodel Gigi Hadid in a beaded hijab. Looks like modesty seems to be the new black.
From Max Mara at Milan Fashion Week to Issey Miyake to Vanessa Seward at the recently concluded Paris Fashion Week — hijab’s reinterpretation this season seems to be the major runway story. It’s fashion’s way of making the style spectrum all-inclusive and also a salute to the fashion-forward Middle Eastern women, who never skip a style beat while keeping their inherent modesty intact. Vogue Arabia’s new cover features supermodel Gigi Hadid in a beaded hijab. Looks like modesty seems to be the new black.
Boundaries are blurring
It’s a well-established fact that Middle Eastern women are extremely style-conscious and also enthusiastic high-end luxury buyers.
Designer Alpana Mittal of label Alpana Neeraj observes that fashion does get inspired by a particular culture from time to time. “Of late, there’s been a Middle Eastern/ Moroccan kind of vibe. Designers have reimagined the hijab with a panoply of textures and embellishments which are an interesting addition to the staple,” says she.
She adds, “It’s got a cosmopolitan vibe. With boundaries slowly blurring, the hijab’s reinvention is a welcome move. Also, it’s modern and of-the-moment without being preachy and it comes together as a beautiful statement with no agenda behind it.”
Inclusivity
Designer Payal Singhal sees it as fashion’s way of trying to ensure all-inclusivity. “We live in interesting times where we’ve seen so many international designers giving a new meaning to classics like sari or hijab. Arab women are not just a potential market in terms of population but in also in terms of being chic and fashion-forward,” says Singhal.
Modesty is high fashion
Sujata Assomull, Fashion Editor, Khaleej Times says, “I think the launch cover of Vogue Arabia says it all. Modest fashion is now high fashion. As for the runways, that might have more to do with commerce than style. The fact is this region loves its fashion and they spend. Go to a red carpet event and you will see some of the most beautiful couture straight off the Paris runway. So, it is natural for fashion houses to want to ‘play’ to this market. And what better way to do this than with the hijab.”
A welcome change
Fashion columnist Asmita Aggarwal says, “From Winnie Harlow to Ashley Graham and Radhika Nair to Bhumika Arora, fashion is kind of becoming all-embracing. You also have a hijab-wearing model Halima Aden, who also proudly wears braces and is now being openly accepted and has a league of dedicated followers.”
Asmita observes that there’s a quiet revolution of sorts that is taking place. “However, one can attribute this movement’s success to social media and the democracy of thoughts that it has ushered in. It is certainly a welcome change from the predictable blue-eyed blondes, who had infiltrated our mindspace,” she adds.
Global togetherness
Designer Urvashi Joneja sees it as a step in bringing about global togetherness. “It’s a classy and modern interpretation of it. Arab women are much more aware and experimental in terms of styling. What I love about the trend is the fact that designers have kept the essence of the hijab alive — it’s such a beautiful garment,” she says.
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 "fashion, Fashion designers, Milan Fashion Week, Khaleej Times, Gigi Hadid, Max Mara, Issey Miyake, Vanessa Seward, Paris Fashion")
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