Here is to diversity in fashion
Paris Fashion Week, the last of the four major fashion weeks has been an exciting event, filled will stellar shows. This past week has given us YSL glow dress, and 70-year-old Grace Jones dancing down Tommy Hilfiger’s runway. But not only that, it has also given us not one or two, but seven Hijabi models, representing modest fashion.
Ugbad Abdi
The Somali born model, who resides in Iowa made her modeling debut back in January for walking in Valentino’s Spring 2019 Couture runway. Ever since then, Ugbad has become a favourite on the runway, and is shaping up to be this season’s newest breakthrough model. She has been a regular feature this fashion week cycle, walking for several big brands including Anna Sui, Marc Jacobs and Matty Bovan in New York; Victoria Beckham, Simone Rocha and Burberry in London; Max Mara, Roberto Cavalli and Fendi in Milan; and finally Off-White, Lanvin, Ann Demeulemeester and Valentino in Paris.
Walking Fendi’s runway was a another breakthrough moment for the 18-year-old, who was the first Hijabi to walk a show for the Italian fashion house. She expressed her excitment on Instagram after the show, writing, “I just don’t even know where to begin with this one. I’m literally speechless. The energy in this room was like none other. Walking for @fendi @silviaventurinifendi and being the first hijab wearing woman to do so is just so incredibly unbelievable in itself but the fact that I walked in @karllagerfeld last collection with Fendi is…. words could never describe how I felt being so fortunate enough to walk in Karl’s last creations alongside such strong and incredible women.”
She then returned to Valentino, the place where it all started for her during Paris Fashion Week. It was clearly a big moment for her, as she posted on Instagram, “Valentinooo 💛💛 The show that started everything for me!! @pppiccioli your collection always amazes me and I’m sooo honored to wear your creation a second time!”
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Halima Aden
The American-Somali model gained national attention back in 2016, when she wore a burkni and hijab at the Miss Minnesota USA beauty pageant. This exposure led to a modeling contract with IMG Models, and in 2017 she made her runway debut at New York Fashion Week, walking for Kanye West’s Yeezy Season 5. This season, she walked two shows at New York Fashion Week. She rocked two dresses for Sheri Hill’s show, one of which went for donation for UNICEF. In her second show, she wore a chain-link crystal hijab on the Christian Cowan runway.
The 21-year-old did not walk any shows in London and Milan, but she did make her Paris Fashion Week debut over the weekend for Tommy Hilfiger. She shared pictures from the catwalk on her Instagram, captioning it, “My first Paris fashion show could not have been more special thanks to @zendaya & @tommyhilfiger!! What a powerful tribute to women ❤️ ”
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Feriel Moulaï
The Algerian model made her Paris Fashion Week runway debut last year, when she walked for Koché. It was then that the biochemest, who is based in Belgium, started to attract international attention. This season, during London Fashion Week, Feriel walked for IA London’s dramatic show with duct tape over her mouth. For Paris, the model returned to Koché’s catwalk for the brands Ready-to-Wear fall collection.
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Zahra
A new face on the runway, this hijabi model was part of a group of four friends from Finland, who walked the Aalto Fall 2019 Ready-to-Wear show together. Zahra has no prior modeling experience; however, according to her Instagram, she was booked to appear at London Fashion Week, but was removed from the show’s line up because “the designer didn’t know about my religion/being modest.” For a first timer, we have to say Zahra looked fierce on the runway.
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Fatima
The stylish model is another one of the group of friends, who rocked the runway of Finnish brand Aalto. Fatima strutted in an oversized sweater with ‘AALTO’ written on it. She posted several behind the scenes pictures on her Instagram, one of which she captioned, “I walked in paris fashion week with my sister and made some new sisters❤️ And the support we’ve had from all of you is unreal!! Thank you so so so much to everyone❤️❤️❤️❤️”
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Salma J
Another member of the gorgeous Finnish girl-gang that we so wish to be a part of. The Somali girl joined her other three friends on the Aalto runway, where she wore a colourful jacket with a hoodie turned hijab, a fun take on modest-wear. Like her friends, Salma shared her excitement on Instagram through several posts, captioning one of them, “Thank you Paris
you will be forever in my heart #parisfashionweek #pfw. Thank you everyone for showing so much love and support!! Love you all✨”
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Aisha
The last of the four girl team, Aisha made her runway debut in a red pant-suit combo, with a buttoned up white blouse with ‘Finland of Aalto’ written on it – we can sense the cool girl vibe. She also shared behind the scenes pictures, writing, “@tuomasmerikoski I am so proud and blessed that I was part of your show along with my sister and my two Somali sisters. Thank you for having us and big congrats ♥️ Thank you to the whole AALTO team that worked tirelessly to make this amazing show happen.”
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We sure do love seeing Muslim representation on the runway!
Image: Instagram, Twitter
