Modest attire gains appeal

A MODEST Fashion movement has grown dramatically in the past decade, with women seeking something that’s simple yet stylish.

The trend has become known for its less-revealing style and has been associated with women of faith, particularly Muslim women.

With Ramadaan and Eid no more than a month away, Muslim women all over the Cape will be getting ready to dress like royalty for their celebrations.

Galiema Heske, from Mitchells Plain, said she likes to get dressed up for Eid.

“I like having my hair done. I like wearing clothes I would normally wear for a wedding, which is semi-formal. I usually do save up for Eid especially when you have kids. It’s quite an expense to clothe all of them.”

Cape Town fashion designer Gadija Khan said Eid had always been considered a time for Muslim women to be able to dress up.

“For Eid, the trend is always more luxury and regal. Fabrics become richer, more opulent, but with a strong feminine demure feel. Colours in jewel tones like sapphire, ruby and emerald. Silk or chiffon scarves. Velvet turbans.”

However, it was only until recently that dressing modestly has become known as “Modest Fashion”.

Recently, Khan and the Council of Modest Fashion opened South Africa’s first Modest Fashion boutique in the Kenilworth Centre.

Khan said more than a decade ago it was difficult to find stylish and suitable clothes. “Finding anything that was long enough was like finding a needle in a haystack. In our community, we’ve always had access to a skilled dressmaker. It’s since the growth of social media that we’ve reached a wider audience.”

But there is no single style for modest fashion.

Fatima Wadee, creative director of Zamaan fashion label, said: “Modesty differs in the length of the hemline, cleavage, opacity of fabrics and fit of garment. Modest Fashion is not limited to a specific culture or religion of women, but rather to any woman who chooses to have a mindset of dressing modestly,” Wadee said.

“We looked at the global wavelength from trends, economics, lifestyles, architecture, diversities and people, to develop a range. The inspiration to do a pop art range in 2016 was to take modest wear to the next level and infuse creativity, innovation, fun and couture into one range.”

Modest Fashion has helped women from different faiths and has been described as a way to give women a choice in what they wear. “We want to see Modest Fashion become part of the fashion industry,” Wadee said.

ABASHIYA ACHILLES MODEST fashion has helped women from different faiths find something exciting but suitable to wear. |