Boutique brands show how sports hijab technology is not just for big business
Photo: Saudi Arabia's Sarah Attar prepares to compete in her women's 800m round 1 heat during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium August 8, 2012. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
Responsive, quick on their feet and clued into the needs of Muslim sportswomen, smaller modest sportswear brands may give new big-name entrants stiff competition
Brands, big and small, spend a considerable amount on research and development, which is crucial to create both fabrics and designs that optimise performance. Athletes such as Emirati figure skater Zahra Lari, who has welcomed Nike’s announcement last week of its debut sports hijab, spoke of being “blown away by the fit and the light weight”, in a statement accompanying the Nike announcement.
When discussing common problems they face while working out in a hijab, which include “coming untucked and overheating”, hijabis on forums such as Reddit have shared what they look for, even going so far as sewing what they need instead of relying on standardised hijab available in the market.
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Shalini Seth, Media ME