This summer the burkini (a swimsuit which covers the whole body except for the face, hands and feet) has been banned in various French resort towns, and now Germany is considering following suit. So what does Aheda Zanetti, the Australian inventor of the burkini, think of the ban?
“This is about choice,” says Ms. Zanetti who is from Lebanon and moved to Australia as a child. “The burkini stands for freedom, flexibility and confidence, it does not stand for misery, torture and terror.”
The fashion designer estimates that 45% of her clients are… non-Muslims. Many are looking for modest swimwear, some are skin cancer survivors looking for full protection from the sun. “We get so many emails from people asking ‘Would the Islamic community be offended if I purchase a burkini swimsuit?'” says Ms. Zanetti.
And news of the recent bans have only increased sales. “Every time anyone says something bad about the burkini, I get enquires and sales out of it,” comments the swimsuit designer.
