In 2014, Nzinga Knight was the first contestant to wear a hijab in the fashion contest show “Project Runway,” and this year, the Brooklyn-based fashion designer is busy with a successful fashion line available in high-end apparel stores (in more than 30 countries) as well as an active online presence. “I’m interested in not only having a sense of what I want as a designer, but also having a sense of what’s in the air and what is socially, culturally and emotionally relevant for people,” says the fashion designer.
Ms. Knight’s designs range from modest-wear outfits, with built-in hijabs, to custom evening gowns. “I have a good amount of Muslim clientele and then I have a good amount of women who are of various other faiths or non-faiths who love the clothing.”
The Brooklyn Bridge notes that “Knight has found a promising business at the intersection of style and Muslim culture, where women seeking to be both modest and elegant had few satisfying choices. Knight’s look draws on tradition, but with a contemporary sensibility.”