Modest Fashion Week Kicks Off in Abu Dhabi
Three days at a beachside resort in Abu Dhabi, celebrating covered-up fashion through runway shows and panel talks while networking and mingling with like-minded women: it's the dream girls' getaway for fans of modest fashion. Marking its 10th edition, Modest Fashion Week kicked off at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort on April 14, with an opening day packed with runway shows and a celebrity appearance by pioneering modest model, Halima Aden.
Aden opened the show for Marina, a Turkish brand presenting full-coverage swimwear on the runway. Functional fabrics were brought to life with colour-blocking and design details such as drawstrings at the waists and ruching at the hems. The moment was a meaningful one for Aden, who in 2016, became the first contestant to wear a hijab and burkini while participating in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant. She was also the first hijab-wearing model to star in a Sports Illustrated swimwear issue.
'Dedicated modest fashion weeks are essential because they create a space where our community isn't an afterthought – we're the main event, Aden shared in our recent report on the evolution of modest fashion.
A grand, spot-lit runway was erected in the resort's Regal Ballroom, bordered by a room full of participating brands' booths, allowing them to showcase their collections to buyers and clients interested in closeup looks. Ayana Ife, who famously became the first hijab-wearing designer to compete in American television series, Project Runway, debuted her athletic line in Abu Dhabi with a cast of diverse models in sporty trainers. Panelled tracksuits were loose-fitting and models sauntered down the runway with a distinctive swagger, as if they were being transported from the ballroom to the basketball court.
Ayana Active at Abu Dhabi Modest Fashion Week. Photography by Rooful Ali Ayana Active at Abu Dhabi Modest Fashion Week. Photography by Rooful Ali
With more formal attire, Turkish label Miha's passion for Victorian-era fashion was made abundantly clear from the first look of its show. Tiered dresses, rainbow-hued ruffles and wallpaper flowers appeared in a palette of sorbet shades, paired with humble ballerina flats and raffia hats.
Miha at Abu Dhabi Modest Fashion Week Miha at Abu Dhabi Modest Fashion Week
This was followed by a showcase of all-white bridal gowns by Palestinian label Salaam, and then a comparatively casual presentation of crochet dresses from New York-based Arta Kallaba. The maxi dresses and skirt-and-shirt pairings featured kitschy rosettes; a colourful meeting point of granny chic and contemporary cool.
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