The Fashion of Islam
Contemporary Style at the de Young Museum
The female, Muslim population continues to grow but many are not informed about the religious meaning behind a Muslim women’s headscarf, also known as a hijab or khimar, and why traditional Muslim clothing is loose-fitted. To help solve this issue, the San Francisco Fine Arts Museum is hosting a Contemporary Muslim Fashions at the de Young Museum. This is the first exhibition to explore the complex and diverse nature of the Muslim dress code in different areas of the world.
The show explores how Muslim women have become trendsetters in the world of fashion. “There are those who believe that there is no fashion at all among Muslim women, but the opposite is true, with modern, vibrant, and extraordinary fashion scenes, particularly in many Muslim-majority countries,” says Max Hollein, former Director, and CEO of the San Francisco Fine Arts Museum.
In today’s polarizing world, the Contemporary Muslim Fashions is greatly needed. The exhibition sheds light on political, social, and cultural understandings and misunderstandings of the Islamic faith through fashion. The show analyzes the clothing the defines a Muslim woman, global fashion trends, and local customs/traditions that alters one’s fashion style. The gallery also explores different forms of covering and headscarves that are used around the globe, including the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and specific communities in Europe and the United States. The familiar elements of a Muslim woman’s dress will be portrayed through photography from artists like Alessia Gammarota, Rania Matar, and Tanya Habjouqa.
The Muslim fashion scene is supported by a robust online community, so the exhibition incorporates an assortment of voices of people who identify as Muslim. For example, style arbiters, bloggers, developing designers, politicians, and athletes are featured. Additionally, throughout the show, there’s an emphasis on how personal style can serve as a conversation starter on issues such as gender, race, and religious inequality.
Designers such as Faiza Bouguessa, Wadha Al Hajri, and Mashael Alrajhi, incorporated this critical message in their ensembles to help promote positive awareness.The San Francisco Fine Arts Museum and those featured hope the textiles that are represented in the Contemporary Muslim Fashions display will help educate the public and help end prejudice and discrimination against Muslim women and the Muslim community.
Looking to join the movement of equality for all? The exhibition opens September 22 and ends January 6. In the meantime, check out our favorite looks that will be featured in the show below.
