For Muslim women who wear hijab in America, sometimes shopping is not as fun as it should be. Muslim women have to do a lot of sifting through clothes stores to find appropriate clothing; blouses that are long enough, loose fitting, and not transparent, or finding a long skirt that does not have a slit up to the knee! Most women order abayas or loose tunics online, but online shopping can be expensive and frustrating when it comes to finding the perfect size.
The search for hijab-compatible clothing has just become a whole lot easier if you live in Orlando, Florida. You can take a trip to the mall, walk into an Islamic fashion store, try on whatever you like, and voila! You have high quality, fashionable, and roomy clothing that keeps you looking modest and pleasant.
Two American Muslim women have just opened one of the country’s first Islamic women’s apparel shop in a popular Florida shopping mall. Lisa Vogl and her friend and business partner, Nadina Abu-Jabara, started out their partnership with marketing and selling a few long dresses and scarves, which then grew into an online store that they named Verona. Since Verona was so successful online, they decided to open a physical store that caters to Muslim women and to women in general who prefer to cover up more than they reveal and women who like this kind of style. Abu-Jubara said they chose Orlando as home to their first physical store because it is a tourist hub with a growing Muslim community
“It’s something that Muslim women need,” Vogl said to Orlando Sentinel. “We’re constantly trying to cover according to our religion, but yet we want to be fashionable.”
Their shop is stocked with long, flowing dresses, cardigans, extra long tops, scarves, and loose active wear. Their designs exude elegance while remaining affordable.
“It is a hijabi Muslim-run, women-run business. We are strong, independent, business educated women,” said Vogl.
In Islam, the hijab is an obligatory code of dress for women and this influences their shopping style. The fashion industry is starting to take notice and to tap into this burgeoning business.
According to the 2015-2016 State of the Global Islamic Economy Report, Muslim consumers spend an estimated $230 billion on clothing.
A report in Al-Jazeerah stated that it is not only small business and local entrepreneurs and designers that have jumped on the modest fashion bandwagon. Large international brands such as DKNY, H&M, and Uniqlo have all created collections to cater to the Muslim market. More recently Dolce & Gabbana unveiled its abaya and hijab collection, causing a stir in the luxury fashion world and setting a precedent other design houses are likely to follow.
