A Minnesota hijab maker debuts Nordstrom collection
By Rachel Hutton
MINNEAPOLIS — A few years ago, 26-yearold Hilal Ibrahim of Minnetonka, Minnesota, was looking for a dressy hijab to wear to for Eid, the Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan.
Nothing she found was quite right. Major retailers sell all kinds of beautiful scarves, but they weren’t long enough, or the fabric was too sheer, or didn’t lie well when wrapped around the head.
So Ibrahim headed to S.R. Harris, the massive Twin Cities fabric outlet, and began sewing her own hijabs. By 2017, she’d launched her own company, Henna and Hijabs.
Ibrahim first became known for hijabs designed for health care workers and now, through a new collaboration with Nordstrom, she’s bringing luxury hijabs into a major department store.
Ibrahim began volunteering at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park when she was 14, and after turning 18, she worked in a variety of health care jobs, from receptionist to certified nursing assistant.
One day Ibrahim was working as a phlebotomist in the emergency room and got a patient’s blood on her clothes. Since the hospital stocked backup scrubs in the employee locker, but no hijabs, she had to go home and change. Ibrahim also noticed that if a patient needed a clean hijab, the only thing the hospital could offer was a blanket or towel.
Her design of a medical-grade hijab — made in durable, breathable jersey that won’t slip, in a shorter length so the fabric doesn’t get in the way, with slits to accommodate stethoscopes and masks — was groundbreaking.
“A lot of individuals came to me and said they couldn’t have imagined hijabs in a health care setting 20 or 30 years ago,” Ibrahim said.
Ibrahim is now focused on Henna and Hijabs full time. She’s been especially busy launching Nordstrom’s first-ever line of hijabs, which are intended for special occasions and come in a variety of materials, from silk to linen. (They’re available online.)
Sustainability is important to Ibrahim, so she gravitates toward eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton (“I want to become the Patagonia of hijabs”) and is also preparing to sell organic henna (a plantbased dye used for body art and hair dye), after seeing young Muslim women come into the emergency room with reactions to the harmful chemicals found in some commercial henna pastes.
Ibrahim also feels strongly about accessibility and bringing hijabs — which are hard to find at major clothing retailers — into more malls and department stores.
“I want Muslim women to be able to go anywhere they want and buy a hijab,” she said. “I want everyone to know that Muslim women can become pharmacists and police officers and lawyers and athletes who compete in the Olympics, and still be who they are.”
Casey
Dear Casey: Like you, I too am always on the hunt for comfortable, not-too-flat flats. NOT the kind that you can feel every pebble in the pavement through the skimpy soles — Kellie & Katie from DSW for instance. Not the ones that chew up your heels or the top of your toes after a few hours of walking (Rothy’s, rothys.com). Or, Chuck Taylors that offer no support (even though they’re pretty cute). I buy my Chucks size bigger to accommodate my Pure Stride Full Length Orthotics (amazon.com, $24.55). My best bet these days are the Home Run ballet flats from Aerosoles (aerosoles.com, $89 reduced to $49) though almost all my flats require gel heel liners (amazon.com and drugstores, Dr. Scholl’s $6.99). Readers, help Casey (and me) find frugal, walk-allday flats that are cute and comfy! What are your faves?
Dear Answer Angel Ellen:
It seems I always end up with more hair conditioner than shampoo. What else can hair conditioner be used for?
— Judy N.
Dear Judy: You are on to something because there are, truly, dozens of uses for all that hair conditioner taking up space in your bathroom. Where to begin? Shaving cream; makeup remover (even for waterproof makeup; do NOT get the conditioner in your eyes); shining stainless steel appliances; hand-washing delicate fabrics (don’t use much and dilute with water); removing temporary tattoos; adding sheen to houseplant leaves (use only a drop or two); shining shoes; overnight foot softening cream (wear socks while sleeping!); unsticking zippers ( just a drop on the metal teeth).
Also, cuticle cream; rub on edges of Band-Aid to ease removal; removing a too-tight ring; bath moisturizer (use sparingly); fabric softener (a little on a moist washcloth in the dry cycle); leave-on for 10 minutes to detangle hair; rub a few drops on hands then gently apply to tame hair frizzies or hair static; use sparingly on shower curtain rod to free up sticky curtain rings; remove adhesive left behind by stickers on glass.
Although not a guaranteed solution, try unshrinking clothes you accidentally washed in hot water by soaking in a sink of cold water with a tablespoon of conditioner, then flatten on a towel and gently stretch; unsqueak door hinges; sparingly polish tools to prevent rust; unstick minor drain clogs with a few globs of conditioner followed by hot water; rub on shoes to minimize or prevent salt and water stains in bad weather.
Now it’s your turn