If you have a blue hijab, or another kind of blue scarf or hat (if you don't wear hijab), simply wear it on Friday, April 2nd.
Why are we wearing Blue on that day?
April 2nd is a Blue Hijab Day. It's a way for Muslim Womens to raise awareness about Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders. And, not just wearing Blue; let people know why you're wearing Blue. Let's start the Conversation about Autism! Make people aware of it! Hope we have develop the idea of Blue Hijab Day, and make it bigger and better next year.
Check out the flyer to get to know more about this:
Read more about World Autism Awareness Day here: http://www.worldautismawarenessday.org/ as well as information about Autism and the Autistic Spectrum in several languages including Arabic.
Here's some great offers and promotions I found on right now. Enjoy!
Dorothy Perkins are currently offering a 25% off everything! For just less than a week left. Use code DPVIPG.
ShopBando have a sweepstakes going on. Buy any ban.do and you are entered to win. The prizes is a $300 ban.do gift card, plus some other goodies. Ends on March 31st, 2010, and the winner will be announced on April 1st.
ShopBando also have some products are currently on sale now; check out here to see which products are on sale. Here are a couple of bandos on sale:
ShopBando sell a wide range of beautiful bando/headband with lots of great styles that can be used as hijab accessories.
are starting an "End of Season Sale". All Winter Collection scarves are discounted!!! Buy now and you will get up to 30% off on Bellissima Scarves Winter Collection 2009-2010.
Up2Date Yogya will launch a Store Re-Grand Opening at Up2Date Yogya. Time: 1:45 pm on Saturday, April 3rd, 2010 Location: Up2Date Yogya, Plaza Ambarukmo Lt. 1 unit B51, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Up2Date Yogya offers:
'One Price' promotion for bazaar on April 2nd-4th, 2010
10% discount on all products (non bazaar) on April 3rd, 2010
and a stylish bag for each IDR 750.000 products purchase.
At the event, there would be a Fashion Show, Headscarf tutorial, Doorprize, and Consultation. Looks interesting! ^_^
Up2Date Yogya also make a contest titled "Xpress Your Style". The winner will get a IDR 1 million shopping-voucher. Visit www.up2date-youarewhatyouwear.blogspot.com for more information about this contest.
These are a couple of photos I took at ANNISA, one of hijab store in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. What caught my eye was the colors, lots of colors, used to make this Hijab Style. Check out the way the scarves are shaped to make the accent of 'flower', and I think, they use lots of layers to create this Colorful Style.
At the back of the store, again, my eye was caught by these beautiful Hijab Style for Wedding:
The store also provides a HijabDresser if we need to wrap or styling an elegant and sophisticated hijab style for a special occassion... Wow, a HijabDresser... isn't that good? ^_^
A Reflection to be a Muslim Woman in Western Society
Fashioning Faith has just heard about a Hijab Day Challenge. That was happening recently on Thursday, March 4th, 2010. It was a day when the MSU at UCI (Muslim Student Union at the University of California Irvine) put on a challenge for many non-Muslim women: To try to see what it is like to wear the headscarf many Muslim women wear for one day. As part of their Islam Awareness Quarter, the statement was more of a way to see what it's like to be in the shoes of a Muslim woman.
At the end of the day, the MSU also brought in an esteemed speaker, Yasmin Mogahed to talk about hijab at a campus where a hundred women tried on the headscarf for a day to understand how a woman that wears hijab feels. Yasmin spoke about the role of hijab and modesty in contemporary American society.
I wonder how it would be? What are the thoughts from people who accepted this challenge?
You can watch the videos of Yasmin's talk here. And also watch the videos of the reflections on hijab, by both muslims and non-muslims after Yasmin's talk, here.
The Guardian.co.uk just published an article about young women living as a muslim and wearing hijab in Ecuador, the first place you wouldn't imagine encountering young Muslim women. But Ecuador has its own confident community. Here are some quotes from the article:
A group of young women in hijab talk animatedly as they await the start of their weekly Islamic class. This is a scene that could easily be from a mosque in London, Cairo, Indonesia or New York. However, this is happening in Quito, the chatter is in Spanish and the ladies are all Ecuadorian.
Here in the heart of an overwhelmingly Catholic South America, an unmarked building in an affluent suburb in the centre of Ecuador's capital city provides a focal point for the country's few thousand Muslims. White walls, geometric designs, sumptuous furnishings and shelves arranged with Islamic literature complete the spacious interior of the Centro Islamico del Ecuador.
Why are these 3 things my favorite things this week? Because...
The Headscarf is one that I've been craved and spied for weeks. I think it's so beautiful! I love the pink little roses embroidery on the off white scarf, with small beads drape beautifully on the corner tips of the scarf. At the first time I saw this headscarf, I don't buy it immediately. And this week, when I ready to buy it, it was 'out of stock'. The shopkeeper lady has to go search in their stock room, look for it... then... voila! There was still one left! Makes me smile... (psst... and jump! ^_^)
The Shoes. They are a pair of original (from what've been told to me... ^_^ , or perhaps they are made by the licensed company) shoes from Etienne Aigner. I can't afford for that kind of branded shoes. I love the shoe because of its classic simple design, its soft leather, and its durability. And then, this week one of my relatives told me that she bought a pair of Etienne Aigner shoes (man made sole, made in Spain) from her friend who live abroad, but the shoes do not fit to her feet. So, she offered the shoes to me in a very cheap price, and I bought them. Happy... ^_^
The Brooch.
My little sister came from Kalimantan, Indonesia, this week. She wore a beautiful brooch studded with the original Borneo's stones on her hijab. It looks shiny and sparkly... very beautiful! I love it since the first time I saw it. But, she only brought one of these kind of brooches and this is her belonging. The brooches price is also quite expensive for me. At the end of this week, she flied back to Kalimantan. Before leave, she took out the brooch from her bag and she gave it to me.... Waaaw... really? I can't believe it. Thank you soooo much, my Dear Sister...! ^_^
What is your favorite thing this week? Happy Tuesday!
I know from the Hijab Trendz that the Gulf News has reported about how Islamic fashion has growing. Estimated to be worth Dh350b (more than $96 billion), the industry offers fashion students an opportunity to tap into a growing market.
Apparently, the increasing of people who wear Islamic clothing be the pulse that attract more muslim students design clothes with Islamic themes. Today, people from all over the world are beginning to show their interest to islamic clothing. As said by Tamara Hostal, Director of French Fashion University ESMOD Dubai (ESMOD):
"Fashion today is moving and passing between different continents as more people travel the world and bring traditional influences back to their own countries. People are increasingly showing they want to wear clothes influenced by Islamic culture as countries that are not yet very Islamic are starting to be".
Hostal also added that:
"Global brands like Fendi, Gucci and Calvin Klein introducing Islamic elements into their recent collections, making it apparent that growing trends and increased demand in a fashion-conscious world means Muslims are no exception".
What do you think about this? Hope it will bring us more options to shape up our styles.. the mix and match between western and eastern... ^_^
Pearl Daisy, owned by Amena (the famous hijab tutor), is giving you the chance to win their fabulous giveaway.
To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is visit Amena's YouTube channel, and enter the answer to the given question. If you don't have an account on YouTube, you have to make yourself an account first before you can submit your answer.
Watch this Pearl Daisy Giveaway video:
Go tell all your friends and family too! The deadline is 21st April, 2010.
Beautiful hijab accessories from Irna Mutiara, one of Indonesian Designers. I think the above accessories are only suitable for special occassion like wedding, engagement, glamorous party, etc.
But, the first picture below looks a bit simple and isn't too big, so perhaps it can be an accessories for stylish, everyday wear.
Aren't they lovely?
For everyday wear, I think using bandana as a hijab accessories is a good idea to spice up our style. Check my post about "accessorizing your headscarf" for more options on hijab accessories.
It has a 'bun' accent on the head. To get this 'bun' accent, you can used your own hair. Just tie your hair and then roll it up on the back, a bit on top, of your head, but not too high. Or, wear a bonnet/underscarf which has an imitation 'bun', a clothed wrap with some kind of sponge/cotton inside, integrated to the bonnet. (Bonnets with a 'bun' are available in many hijab stores in Java, Indonesia).
It uses such kind of jersey fabric headscarf as the basic layer.
And then, add any accessories or layer you want, such as tulle, beads, bandana, etc.
What do you think of these hijab accessories collection? You can see more of Irna Mutiara's beautiful designs here. Or, visit Irna Mutiara Jakarta Fashion Week profile to find out even more about her.
UpDate: Klik here to see new collection of Hijab Accessories from Irna La Perle.
I'm always excited when it comes to sport hijab... when I heard a clothes-producing company or a designer launches a new model or design of modest sport-clothes or sports hijab... or, when there is an invention/innovation about it.
Modest swimwear, I think, is one of the big inventions/innovations for muslim women that makes me really happy. I embrace all new modest sport-clothes designs which can make us more and more comfort to do all of our physical/sporting activities.
Recently, Bahiya Collections has launched a new sport hijab, named Athletica Sports Hijab, made of organic cotton and bamboo materials, so, they said, it is absorbent and breathable.
I wonder how it would feel?
I also found a website that offers a variety of sports headwear, the name is Capsters. Capsters offers sports headwear that are suitable either for warm climate or for cold climate. For warm climate type, from what they said, the materials are light, very soft, smooth, and breathable to keep your head cool. Light colors are available for warmer climate.
They also offer sports headwear depends on the sport. There are a tennis, aerobics, surf, swim, running, or outdoor headwear.
I have a hijab that looks like this one, and this is a kind of hijab that I'm wearing when I do my workout.
Another kind of sport hijab that I'd like to mention is the one that invented last year. On November 2009, an industrial designer from Montreal, Canada, Elham Seyed Javad designed a sleek sport hijab called Resport. It's a headscarf and camisole in one with an opening at the back of the head, allowing easy acces to readjust the hair. Resport is wore under the usual sports wear.
Note: to be wore under long-sleeves sport wear (Picture via Huffington Post)
Resport will be available with short sleeves, long sleeves, and sleeveless. I think this one would be our future sports hijab. It looks practical and comfort, and I hope the materials are also breathable, so we wouldn't feel that we have this headwear on.
If I have to choose, judging from just their look and their description, I think I would choose Resport. It looks very comfortable to wear on sporting activities... What do you think?
What kind of sports hijab that you are used to or choose to wear?
Looking for some inspirations to make or get your own abayas? Here are some pictures of abaya styles from Dubai.
Wings Abaya from Dubai offers a collection of their abaya. Although, they name their collection 'abaya', some of them still need to be hijabified. Like at the picture number 1, it need to be modified to cover the arms. Or, trick this out by wearing a long-sleeves tee under this 'almost-abaya' dress...
However, I think their collection is fabulous and rich with inspiration to help us design a unique abaya. They also applied some ruffles and the color purple, which are this Spring fashion trends... ^_^
Wearing Hijab Without Losing Your Identity (Part 2)
One of my readers, Putri Ayuningtyas, sent me a picture of her and her friend wearing Hanbok, a Korean traditional dress. She is an Indonesian, but right now she lives in Germany. She likes Korean stuff, and also have a blog, titled In Her Shoes.
Her pictures and some articles from Islamic Horizons I read recently have motivated me to write this post (Wearing Hijab Without Losing Your Identity part 2) as an addition to the the previous one. If you miss the part one, here is the link to read it.
As human being, we have a multiple identities. One person's identity (or 'identities', for more accurate) might include all of multiple significant social categories. The identity is made up of his/her ethnicity, citizenship, political view, religion, and so on.
In term of citizenship identity, sometimes there are some people who do not want to wear hijab because they think they might lose their personal identity as a citizen/ethnic of some country. They think if they wear hijab, other people will assume that they are Arab, or wearing other culture's clothes that do not suit with their country.
As we already know, wearing hijab doesn't mean that we will losing our identities. We still could show our identities through, for example, our clothes.... whether we are a doctor, an engineer, a teenager, a mother, an American, a Russian, an Indonesian, a Japanese, a soccer fan, etc.
We need to build a healthy sense of identity that allows us to be defined for who we are. We could be an Indonesian-muslim, a Korean-muslim, an American-muslim, etc. We could be a muslim-baseball fan, a muslim-engineer, a muslim-lawyer, a muslim-mother, etc.
Islamic Horizons, an Islamic magazine in America, raises this identity issue in their March/April 2010 issue. You could read the online version here. There are some articles about identity issue on Islamic School in America.
In one of articles on that magazine, titled: Serving Tawheed and Turkey page 44, Erik Erikson, a famous child development expert, said that:
"Failure to achieve an identity can lead to confusion and despair".
So, it's important for us to develop our unique identity or self.
A picture from the cover story
(Photograph courtesy of The American Youth Academy)
As a muslim woman who wears hijab, there is a whole new realm of possibility for our clothes, from traditional clothes to urban or modern outfits as long as you love it, there aren't any rules on what styles it should be...
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