H&M recently released a bold video that featured a Muslim woman wearing a Hijab. The video has raised a lot of debate and speculation about Muslim women in the global fashion industry today. The video features 21-year-old Mariah Idrissi who lives in London and was raised by two Pakistani parents.
When asked about the video Idrissi commented that she felt everything was appropriate. Idrissi said, “In our religions, anything that is not stated as forbidden is permissible.”
By Muslim law, the outfit was perfectly acceptable and law abiding. Indrissi felt that it was successful in helping advertise and integrate the Muslim culture into the fashion world. Idrissi explained to Fusion that she feels that Muslim women are misrepresented as a whole and added, “our style, in a way, hasn’t really mattered, so it’s amazing that a brand that is big has recognized the way we wear hijab.”
Mariam Veiszadeh, who was interviewed by CNN works as a Muslim lawyer and also spoke out on her concern with the “concrete ceiling” that Muslim women face in the fashion industry. Another Muslim female, Shelina Janmohamed, who works as a brand consultant, expressed similar concern. She commented on the nervousness that brands face in targeting Muslim women due to the way the media reacts.
Her advice to these brands: “I would encourage them to be brave and be bold and they’ll see that Muslim audiences are extremely responsive and very loyal.”
While she encourages more brands to represent Muslim women, she does warn against confusing the religious symbol of modesty with a fashion piece, as this would defeat the meaning of the object.
With the world becoming more and more diverse and connected by digital and social media, we can only imagine the changes that will come in the global fashion industry. Power to H&M and Mariah Idrissi!