New crowdfunded ‘climate-adapting hijab’ delivering on more than 2,000 pre-orders
In June 2015, Ohio, U.S.-based Veil Hijab raised almost $40,000 from 883 backers on the crowdfunding site Kickstarter to produce ‘Cool Dry’, which the company claims to be the first ever “climate-adapting hijab”. Veil Hijab founder Ahmad Ghanem tells Salaam Gateway more about the product.
Salaam Gateway: Your crowdfunding target for your ‘Cool Dry’ hijab was $5,000. Why do you think the project received such an overwhelming response?
Ahmad Ghanem: I believe part of it was the lack of options available for covered women, especially those living in the West. For them to finally see something brought to the table that tailors to what THEY wear specifically and that they aren’t being excluded from the advanced textile world, I think it makes them feel really good about themselves. We also partnered with a lot of great people to spread word about the product. Many news sources also wrote up on us so that was a great extra spotlight boost for the project.
Salaam Gateway: Why do you say Cool Dry is the “most advanced hijab ever”?
Ahmad Ghanem: It’s pretty simple: technological fabrics have never been brought to the Islamic apparel industry. Veil is built around thinking outside of the box and we will continue to bring advancement to this market.
Salaam Gateway: You haven’t explicitly marketed Cool Hijab as Islamic/modest sportswear. What’s your marketing strategy and branding for it?
Ahmad Ghanem: Cool Dry is an all-around hijab, in our opinion. It was initially created as a lifestyle hijab to help women in warmer climates as well as stay dry when it rains. The oil repellency/stain release technology also makes it much easier when it comes to cleaning up or dealing with stains or other messes. However, its sweat-wicking capabilities make it suitable for sporting activities. We plan on launching hijabs in the near future that are made specifically for athletes.
Salaam Gateway: What’s your target market with regard to demographics and geographies?
Ahmad Ghanem: Our market is pretty much limitless. We had many non-Muslims preorder a Cool Dry because it can be worn as a regular scarf too, not just a hijab. In regards to the Islamic market, we have received preorders from over 40 countries and counting, so we’re aiming globally.
Salaam Gateway: There are several modest sportswear companies coming up in different countries around the world. Does Veil Hijab see a need for a merger of some of these companies in order to achieve scale and increase chances of penetrating more markets?
Ahmad Ghanem: Veil Hijab has plans to penetrate the athletic market in the future but right now our main focus is to get all our Cool Dry preorders into the hands of our customers once production completes.
Salaam Gateway: Is the modest sportswear market big enough to attract the major global sportswear brands such as Nike, Adidas and Reebok?
Ahmad Ghanem: That’s a question I ask myself a lot, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. With over one billion Muslims globally, it’s definitely a huge market.
Salaam Gateway: What are you hoping to achieve for Veil Hijab for the mid-term (up to five years), what’s in the pipeline?
Ahmad Ghanem: We have huge plans for Veil in the near future, but that pipeline is top secret at the moment. You’ll have to wait and see :P
ABOUT VEIL HIJAB
| When was Veil Hijab founded? | Late 2013; the company has been in the backend works until it was finally launched in the summer of 2015. |
| Where is it based? | Cleveland, Ohio, USA |
| Who owns the company? | Ahmad Ghanem |
| How many people does the company employ? | Two |
| Where does the company get its raw materials from? | Its manufacturers source all the materials. |
| Where are the company's products manufactured? | Made in USA |
| On average, how many sportswear hijabs does the company produce in a month? | The company has sold 2,000+ units in pre-orders since May 20, 2015, and 10,000+ requested for distribution in Jul, 2015. |
| What's the best-selling item? | Cool Dry is the only product so far. |
| Who is Veil Hijab's typical customer? | Everyone is their target, at some point. |
| Does Veil Hijab follow any ethical guidelines for the type and sourcing of materials, as well as manufacturing of products? | Yes, all its products are made 100 percent ethically. |
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