Chosen as H&M’s first Muslim model, Mariah Idrissi is very encouraged by Dolce & Gabbana’s new hijab and abaya collection, geared to the fashion-forward Muslim woman. “I think [brands] are realizing, let’s not just do it in that one month [Ramadan], let’s make this something to stay, because they’ve realized the potential and how much Muslim women spend on fashion,” says the 23 year old model.
Indeed, Islamic fashion is said to be one of the industry’s fastest growing sectors, estimated to be worth more than $327 billion by 2020.
“It’s hard being a Muslim and needing to dress conservatively but loving fashion,” she continues. “Nice ‘going out’ clothes are particularly hard. Everything’s either really dressy or really casual.”
“Fashion is such a big, influential part of life, the same way that music is to movies. If we were more used to seeing Muslim women, then for all the negative media that we hear about Muslims, they’d also be a positive side to it as well.”
