HijabFest Explores Muslim Fashion in New Jersey

Due to the growing population of Muslims in the Tri-State area there has been an increased demand for fashionable clothing, styles and accessories which incorporates a sense of modesty.

Dr. Shadee ElMasry, the Director of Religious Education and Community Development at NBIC, came up with the idea more than a year ago, said Rabeeha Khan, one of the event organizers.

She said he saw that there were negative perceptions, stereotypes and discrimination related to the hijab and he wanted to bring a positive view to it.

“I think this event is really important because I think, in this day in society where women are constantly looked at as objects, for us Muslim women, we are empowered through our hijab. I think these events are necessary to remind younger girls and even older women who wear the hijab or dress modestly, that we are beautiful,” said Sufia Masood, 24, from Marlboro in Monmouth County. “We should accept our hijab and our way of dress whole-heartedly, and this is a perfect event to empower one another to do so.”

“I feel it is important because hijab represents to me modesty, faith and love.” said attendee, Annese Higgs, when asked, “What does Hijab mean to you?”

Ms. Higgs said she came to the Islamic faith about two years ago and is still learning about Islam and wanted to spend the day with other women of her faith.

She traveled with her girlfriends and her daughter from Washington, D.C., and learned of the event from Facebook.

She said hijab is important to her because one needs to, “do what Allah (the Muslim name for God) has commanded and to keep your beauty for who really needs to see it, which is your husband, besides everybody else. I think it helps to protect us from glances of men, and makes me feel special because it is keeping something that is special for someone else special, away from just the whole world when I go outside,” she said. “I am protecting myself from everything. And also it’s showing it represents my faith too, and nobody has a question on what I believe in when I go out in hijab.”

She said she works for the federal government and when she first started wearing the hijab, many colleagues would ask her questions about her scarf and other aspects of Islam.

She said she was happy to have the opportunity to share her knowledge and educate others about her religion.

The program commenced with an opening prayer in Arabic.

The host of the event, Suzy Ismail, 37, from Franklin Township, an author, a speaker, a teacher, and an activist, then spoke on the intention of the program.

“(It) is to truly celebrate the power of modesty and the power of womanhood,” she said.

She stressed that we have to have modesty in all that we do, in our speech, in our actions and in our dress.

“It truly empowers a Muslim woman,” said Sobia Masood, age 18 from Marlboro.

She said she started wearing the hijab this past summer.

“It was a big decision for me because I was heading to Fashion School in the Fall, and I felt it was the right decision because I am going to Fashion School for not only myself, but for other Muslim women who want to dress modestly but feel like they can’t be fashionable,” she said. “Which is why this event is really important; because it really empowers all Muslim women. It gives them a good outlet and allows them to see; I can be very modest, I can uphold my faith in such a way that is beautiful and tie fashion into it.”

There were several tutorials on various aspects on the scarf.

A hijab stylist, Chaza Nourelddine from Dearborn, Michigan, demonstrated how to elegantly wrap formal wear hijabs.

Other tutorials included, “Hijab Essentials and Everyday Looks”, by Sana Rashid and “Different ways to Organize Hijabs” by Sania Siddiqui.

A businesswoman, Ridwana Lloyd-Bey, gave a presentation on “What does Hijab mean to Successful Muslim Business Women,”

She spoke on her experience as a woman in the corporate world and how she chose to make a the difficult decision to start wearing the hijab to please God and potentially taking a chance of sacrificing a critical business opportunity.

She said Muslim women should not have to compromise their religious beliefs to advance their careers.

She said her decision to wear the hijab gave her the most important thing, which was having the “peace of mind” that she did the right thing.

More words of inspiration were given on “Hijab and Fitness” by Zainab Ismail, a fitness trainer and nutritionist.

She spoke about the importance of pleasing God by being physically fit and eating healthy.

Attendees enjoyed lunch which included rice and chicken/beef provided by Douglass Pizzeria & Grill.

There was also time specifically allotted for everyone to have the opportunity to shop at the many vendors who were selling clothing, hijabs, accessories, jewelry and much more.

The highlight for many attending this event was a fashion show that featured American modest fashion designers.

The HijabFest fashion designers included Kotton Love, May Ade Designs, Unique Hijabs, True Faith Apparel, Laila’s Collection, Bulbul Clothing and Amirah Couture.

Sania Siddiqui, a 23-year-old social worker from Monroe, organized the fashion show.

“It’s so nice to see that you can combine modesty with fashion,” said Sadia Shakir, 37, of Pennington. “I think it is important for girls to see positive role models who are dressed modestly and who can be fashionable at the same time when there are so many negative role models out there for young girls who are not so modestly dressed and who have a big impact on the girls psyches as they are growing up.”

She also had words of encouragement for women who wear a hijab.

“Women who do hijab, it’s not easy, and more power to you, kudos, because this is a challenge,” she said. “It’s so difficult, and it’s really admirable, me being a non-hijabi (not covered with a scarf) when I see someone in hijab, it’s very admirable, because it is difficult.”

The event ended with another presentation on the topic of “Hijab and The American Muslim Woman” by Hala Amer, the founder of an online Muslim Mom’s Network. She talked about how, while wearing the hijab, she has the power to basically mold the way people see Muslims.

She said when she wears the hijab, she is more conscious of her own character and hopes people she interacts with would view Islam in a more positive light.

Ms. Amer also talked about the other benefits of hijab.

“When you are able to stop focusing on how we are seen by others the end result is some level of contentment and empowerment,” she said. “I think that it is a really important trait to model for our children. By being different, by being obviously Muslim in a culture that doesn’t look that favorably on it, and not apologizing for who you are, this example will stick with your children. The actions speak louder then any words.”