Emerging Fashion Industry Empowers Muslim Women, Shapes Identity

June 4, 2013 – Muslim women in America have long struggled to find clothes that satisfy both their fashion sense and religious sensibilities. Because Islamic views on modesty require them to wear loose-fitting clothes that cover most of their bodies, trendy and fashion-forward clothes found in mainstream stores have not often been a viable option for Muslim women.

But today, things are changing. In the U.S. and around the world, up-and-coming designers are creating a new niche in the fashion world inspired by Islam’s guidelines for modesty. They are successfully fusing current fashion trends with modest designs to create a distinct and modern look for Muslim women in the West. Sisters Bayan and Amany Jondy of Northern Virginia, are one such example of this. Their online company, Zeena, is one of the leading clothing lines for Muslim women in the U.S.

According to some media reports, the Muslim fashion industry is estimated to be worth $96 billion worldwide and is rapidly growing. The fuel behind this growth is a generation of young, confident Muslims who are embracing their faith with confidence.

Since its launch in 2011, Zeena has opened up a world of opportunity for Muslim women.  By offering them fashionable sportswear, swimwear and professional attire that maintain a sense of modesty, Zeena has empowered Muslim women to take on activities they have felt self-conscious about in the past such as hitting the gym, venturing out on the water or even climbing the corporate ladder.

“In all our years of shopping and shopping, we never quite found a dependable designer that offered modern and modest clothes that expressed our American identity,” said Amany Jondy, co-owner of Zeena. “We started Zeena because we truly believed that Muslim women could be loyal to both their religious and American identities.”