Two
years ago, a chirpy young immigrant Iraqi woman sat in her family kitchen
weighing the options before her. On the one hand, her heart had already chosen a
path for her, but it was one that seemed to be the more difficult, the more
challenging. On the other, she found her thoughts furiously fighting self-doubt,
force of habit and environment.
For
26-year-old S. N., it was a decision that would ultimately change her
life, transform her relationship with the world around her, and help her create
a niche for young, active Muslim women.
“I
was blessed,” she says of her decision to wear hijab, the Islamic head
cover.
“It
was a decision I was always postponing because of my doubts about finding a job
in the U.K., or finding a husband who believed the hijab protected a
woman’s attractive qualities,” she says.
Eventually,
her faith in God and her desire to adhere to Islam won over her fears. The week
she chose to wear hijab was one of the most exciting, most high-spirited
in her life. Her decision would ultimately strengthen her resolve in Islam and
make her feel closer to God.
“In
time, the hijab became an extension of who I am, a part of me,” she
says, laughing at her initial fears.
S. N.
credits a lengthy conversation with other Muslims at a self-empowerment series
of sessions called Landmark Forum. Her conversations, as well as what she
discovered about herself, led her to realize that too much emphasis was placed
on physical appearances.
S. N.
met another Muslim, Karine Larouci, a French convert who had married an Algerian
man. Despite family protests and outburst, Larouci willingly chose to convert to
Islam four years after her marriage. She also opted to wear the hijab
with S. N..
And
that’s when both women discovered something wasn’t quite right in the world
of young Muslim women living in non-Muslim countries.
“My
friends and I were constantly frustrated with not being able to find trendy
fashionable clothes that were loose and long enough to allow us to remain in
integrity with Islam,” says S. N..
S. N.
and Larouci realized that it was difficult enough to choose to wear the hijab
in the midst of the west’s perception of Muslim women, let alone not find any
proper attire. The tragedies of September 11 had just created a zealous
atmosphere targeting Muslims in North America and Europe, and the two women felt
that more should be done to alleviate the living conditions of Muslim women in
these countries. In short, S. N. and Larouci wanted to make it as easy as
possible for young Muslim women who were thinking of wearing the hijab.
After
taking a Self Expression and Leadership Program (SELP), S. N. and Larouci
felt it was high time they put their thoughts into action.
In
early June, the young women decided that they would put together a fashion show
of Islamic designs for women and donate the proceeds to an Iraq relief fund.
The
decision to help with the Iraq relief fund was an almost knee-jerk reaction to
the daily events that are unfolding in Iraq, where a majority of the population
find themselves without electricity, adequate drinking water, and sufficient
food supplies.
The
fashion show, scheduled for Saturday, August 23 from 5-9 p.m., at 138 Maple Road
in Surbiton, Surrey, will donate all proceeds to Islamic Relief, a volunteer
charity organization currently distributing food aid to over 30, 000 Iraqis in
Baghdad, Diyala, Karbala, Wasit, and the Al-Anbar Governorate. Beneficiaries
have included orphans, the disabled and very poor households. Islamic Relief has
also been involved in the Baghdad Clean-Up Project, which has cleared central
streets of rubble and decomposing waste that was creating a health and traffic
hazard. Despite the dangers, Islamic Relief staff in Iraq are hard at work
helping to alleviate suffering.
S. N.
and Larouci knew this would be a challenging undertaking and they admit that
they maybe somewhat green at advertising and public relations. Armed with
business and leadership skills they picked up in the SELP, they immediately
called on the support of family and friends and circulated the word in London,
Paris, the U.S., and throughout the Middle East that they were looking for
Islamic clothiers and their wares.
Although
the idea of an Islamic fashion show is not novel (many are held every year in
non-Muslim countries by Muslim clothing companies), the fact that this is an
independent effort launched by two young women who are also consumers inspired
the Muslim community in London and elsewhere.
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Fashion
Shows may inspire the Muslim women in UK to become more proactive in
their lifestyles and in their communities
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The
fashion show has gained the support of local vendors and businesses. Donations
and discounts for food and drinks were offered by local Middle Eastern shops,
restaurants and cafes, hairdressers, a make-up artist, and a local print shop.
The
girls modeling the various fashions are all friends of the organizers, with some
having participated in previous Islamic shows in Ilford, London. Islamic
fashions are being flown in from Jordan and the U.S. and will be shown in
addition to the works of a London-based fashion designer.
“The
fashion show is also an opportunity, a forum to promote the designers of these
Islamic clothes collections,” says Larouci.
The
₤12 entrance charge includes food and drink and an automatic entry into a
drawing for a door prize that was donated by John Frieda. Clothes will also be
on sale after the fashion show.
S. N.
explains that it is pivotal that the clothes be available for sale after the
show. “I don’t want this to be where women come and see clothes they can’t
have,” she says.
While
S. N. pretends not to suffer from lack of sleep and sore feet from the
advertising, promotion, and media relations groundwork she has covered, she
readily admits that this is just the beginning of what she hopes to accomplish.
Her
vision is to create an environment where women no longer feel constrained in the
clothing options offered to them.
“I
want to establish a foundation that will help Muslim women readily find
fashions,” she says.
“They
shouldn’t feel deprived of good clothing just because they choose an Islamic
lifestyle.”
S. N.
hopes the fashion show will inspire other Muslim women in the U.K. to become
more proactive in their lifestyles and in the communities.
If
the show is a success, she says, she will begin a new, more ambitious project:
to meet with various Muslim fashion designers and discuss a new line of clothing
specifically geared towards women of her generation.
