Paris Hosts Modest Fashion Week with 30 Designers

Uk reported. The event showcased clothing that covers arms, legs, and sometimes hair, in line with religious principles followed by many Muslim women. Models took to the runway in long, flowy dresses in floral colors, with the focus on florals and nature-inspired hues inside Hôtel Le Marois, a mansion just off the Champs-Élysées.

Uk reported. Loose full-length robes known as abayas were prohibited in schools more recently, stemming from laïcité, which requires the state and public institutions to be free of religion. People cannot wear religious clothing while working in public-sector professions like teaching or the civil service in France.

Uk reported. 5 million Muslims according to estimates. Global consumer spending on modest fashion is expected to exceed $400bn by next year, according to DinarStandard, with the industry initially catering to Muslim women but increasingly appealing to other religious communities and secular shoppers.

Uk reported. Hicran Önal, founder and designer of Turkey-based brand Miha, wore a printed floral tulle dress at the event and said romance was key to her collection. Her outfits at Modest Fashion Week blend water-like teals and blue with natural floral pinks, as seen in her romantic dresses blending blues and pinks.

Uk reported. Aisa Hassan, designer behind Australian brand Asiyam, said she was inspired by nature for her collection, featuring deeper greens and almost autumnal reds. Her collection included a bucket hat nodding to her Aussie heritage, with warmer hues in outfits that contrasted the softness with the sporty aesthetic prevalent in the industry.

Uk reported. Nour Turbans styled a model with a beret over a headscarf, combining a beret with a headscarf in one outfit. Boxy streetwear by Soutoura was also showcased on the runway. uk reported. She said she had struggled with her hijab in France but today felt it was not holding her back.

Doucouré added that exhibiting her collection in Paris made her feel that Muslim women who cover their hair or dress modestly could take on any role in any society, with the French designer exhibiting her designs at the event. uk reported. Burkinis cover everything except the face, hands, and feet, and were worn by models on the runway.

Burkinis are banned in most public swimming pools in France but allowed on beaches. uk reported. She said seeing a major show full of international designers in the heart of Paris had made her never want to leave France.

Another young attendee said the event felt like something had changed in France, with her hijab no longer feeling like the centre of political discussion, and that on the streets in France, people had begun to see beyond the hijab.