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Modest fashion is a rising trend in the UK, with the first ever London Modest Fashion Week being hosted in 2017 at the prestigious Saatchi Gallery. Sponsored by Modanisa, the groundbreaking fashion week was attended by 3,000 trendsetters, and showed the real demand for Muslim-inclusive high-fashion events in the UK’s capital city. London continues to lead in Islamic style, and it’s inhabitants are eager consumers and contributors to the $250 billion dollar industry.
For many young women living in London, modest fashion goes beyond the realms of high-profile fashion weeks and events. New pioneers are now mixing streetwear culture with traditional dress, and sourcing their inspiration from trainer and sportswear brands instead of haute couture. One of these pioneers, Saeedah Haque, has founded the first ever streetwear abaya brand. Her start-up company showcases new ideas for casual streetwear, and supports the growing demand for alternative modest fashion. The London-based designer represents the women that simultaneously live between Eastern and Western ideas, and gives voice to a globalised generation of young Muslims.
Taking inspiration from London’s streetwear fashion scene, her oversized styles and boxy fits show creative innovation and modernisation of the abaya aesthetic. Still at the beginning stages of her career in fashion, Saeedah Haque cites her desires to start her brand of streetwear abayas in line with demand for diversity in the industry:
By transgressing from the traditional feminine designs that dominate the current world of modest fashion, Saeedah Haque brings much needed diversity to the industry. Haque’s work is representative of the modern Muslim, with her simple designs being predominantly inspired by contemporary Japanese styles and her Bangladeshi background.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Saeedah Haque (@saeedahhaque) on
Her collection is focused on neutral tones that can be styled with trainers instead of high heels. Not only considerate on style, the streetwear abaya is made to suit a busy city lifestyle through its creation, which includes pockets and zips. Specially curated for everyday use, this brand breaks away from the conventional designs seen at high-profile modesty fashion week events.
Although still new to the world of fashion, Saeedah Haque is one to watch. She has undoubtedly marked herself as part of the next generation of female creative leaders in the modest fashion industry, and her work highlights the importance of diversity in design. Proudly representing the modern Muslim woman, Haque’s minimalist collection demonstrates that women can be on trend without compromising values or beliefs.
You can find Saeedah Haque’s collection of streetwear abayas on her Instagram page: @SaeedahHaque
