The modestwear item has gone from being spotted once a season to becoming part of the norm.
It was 2016 when Anniesa Hasibuan made New York Fashion Week history.
The Indonesian designer sent an all-hijab collection down the runway in a first for the biannual event, one which ended with a standing ovation.
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But now, three years on, modest fashion on the catwalk has become part of the dialogue rather than making a brief appearance.
Following Hasibuan’s groundbreaking show, she was invited back the following season, while two other Indonesian designers presented collections complete with hijabs as part of a show dedicated to the south-east Asian nation.
Kanye West also received praise last year for including his first hijabi model as part of the Yeezy Season 5 catwalk show—with the model in question none other than certified runway star Halima Aden.
It marked the fashion week debut of the 20-year-old Somali-American model, who first rose to fame after donning traditional Muslim dress to compete in a US beauty pageant.
“I signed with the top modelling agency in the WORLD and still wore my hijab as my crown,” she said shortly after her Yeezy show. “Don’t ever change yourself…Change the game.”
Marc Jacobs also embraced turbans for an Arabian Nights-themed show last season, sending models—including Bella and Gigi Hadid—down the runway in headwraps, harem-style pants and sandals.
And now, with the Autumn/Winter ’18 shows in full swings, modestwear has been ever more prevalent in the Big Apple.
Aden has been a fixture both on and off the runway, walking for German-born designer Philipp Plein as well as sitting front row at Sherri Hill.
Sportwear giant adidas also roped in a diverse line-up of models to present its Danielle Cathari-designed Originals collection.
(Side note: while this does not appear to be an adidas-branded covering, could this signal that the label might move into the modestwear market, like Nike? The jury’s out).
Muslim-friendly fashion also strutted into the limelight during a presentation on Saturday, when US label B. Zarina took to the catwalk.
The moderately priced line, in which every piece rings in under US$250 (Dhs918), looked nothing but luxe, with flowing silks, embellished tulle and just a hint of shimmer adorning each look.
Indonesian designer Vivi Zubedi also presented her contemporary abaya-only collection, that has us digging out our baseball caps from the back of our wardrobes.
With a more inclusive approach growing year after year, we can’t wait to see what 2019’s catwalks look like.
Images: Getty
