Head scarves for dolls more than just child’s play
McCune, a stay-at-home mother of two and artist based in Rankin. McCune, who operates Etsy shop TheBigOh, fashioned Grace’s first Barbie hijab among about 100 others she has made.
Gisele Fetterman’s idea has since grown into Hello Hijab, a locally based initiative that will sell dollsized hijabs for $6 each. The hijabs will be available online at her site, ForGoodPgh.com beginning this month.
The small squares of fabric are handmade in varying colors and patterns, mirroring the real-life headscarves that typically measure 36 inches on each side. Gisele Fetterman said Muslim seamstresses will create the next round of mini hijabs at what she called a living wage of $15 per hour.
“If children grow up playing with the dolls and understanding that we’re all different but similar, too, they will be much more accepting adults,” Gisele Fetterman said. For her, Hello Hijab is grounded in education. Each scarf will be packaged with a tag, featuring the Hello Hijab logo and a few lines of text describing the nature of the hijab and why it’s important. The message will be written with positivity and inclusivity in mind, Gisele Fetterman said.
The number of scarves produced depends on demand, but Fetterman said she has interest from customers in states such as New York and New Jersey.
Last year, Nigerian medical scientist Haneefah Adam, then 24, created the wildly popular Hijarbie Instagram account, which has amassed 781,000 followers worldwide. Previously, she had not seen dolls in the head garb, she told CNN, so she was inspired to create role models who dress modestly.
On the site, Adam posted photos of Barbie dolls clad in mini hijabs she had made. Some of the posts feature side-by-side comparisons of the dolls with real-life style influences.
Mattel, the manufacturer of Barbie, did not respond to telephone or email requests for comment on current or future plans to create Muslim dolls or accessories.
Gisele Fetterman said that any small difference the Hello Hijab makes is worthwhile.