Muslim Designers Prove that “Hijab is Beautiful” at New York Fashion Week

This year has been full of Hijabis making headlines and we couldn’t be more thrilled! The courageous Halima Aden has skyrocketed from the Miss Minnesota pageant to full on supermodel status, sitting front and center at some of the fashion industry’s biggest events. Ayana Ife is breaking down boundaries on mainstream television with Project Runway. And now, two Muslim sisters have made waves on the first day of New York Fashion Week.

On September 7, Dian Pelangi and Vivi Zubedi made a statement about modest fashion both with their fabulous designs and with their words.

“We’re not oppressed and we just want to show the world that we can still be beautiful and stylish with our hijab on,” said Dian, a 26-year-old designer from Indonesia, in an interview with The Guardian. We couldn't agree more! Dian’s diverse collection, inspired by the bestselling book “Humans of New York” was filled with colorful Indonesian materials, Batik prints and tie dyes.

Vivi Zubedi’s work was more conservative, consisting of traditional Islamic garments like the classic black abaya. Sewn onto the back of her gowns were the words “Mekkah, Madinah, Jannah,” two sites of Muslim pilgrimage as well as the Arabic word for paradise, as well as the phrase “all colors matter.”

“Hijab is beautiful, we are all still human no matter what religion you are. We are still the same,” said Vivi, who is 30. Both designers, as well as numerous other sisters in the industry, are working to add diversity to fashion and change prejudices against Muslim dress in the west. This advancement of modest fashion is happening with a snowballing effect and we want to say—keep it going! We are right there with you!