Modest fashion's global turn

"At Paris Modest Fashion Week last month, influencers, buyers and journalists crowded into the historic halls of Hotel La Marois as models prepared to emerge onto the runway in embellished satin tailoring, corseted silhouettes and full-coverage eveningwear. One model stomped through the hotel's gilded salons dressed in a denim maxi dress with cargo pockets, paired with a matching cropped jacket, Far more unexpected than denim on the catwalk, however, was the black crochet balaclava, adorned with dramatic, oversized crystals, that covered her head and most of her face."

"It was French label Soutoura's streetwear take on the niqab a symbol that has been banned in France since 2010. The country's fraught relationship with visible expressions of Muslim identity makes it a meaningful, if not ironic, destination for the latest instalment of Modest Fashion Week, which is organised by Think Fashion and has previously held events in cities like Jakarta, Istanbul, Abu Dhabi and Amsterdam."

"Bringing it to Paris was a natural step in positioning modesty within the global fashion dialogue, says Think Fashion CEO, Ozlem Sahin. It's also a statement that the industry has reached a level of maturity, where it can be presented at prestigious venues on the Champs-Elysees, with top model agencies, leading choreographers and strong execution. The message is clear: Modest fashion has the potential to be a leading force within the international fashion scene."

"Over the past decade, modesty has been reshaping retail, influencing fashion houses far beyond the Gulf. Muslim spending on fashion is forecasted to reach $433bn by 2028, according to DinarStandard's State of the Global Islamic Econo"

Paris Modest Fashion Week gathered influencers, buyers, and journalists at Hotel La Marois as models prepared for runway looks featuring embellished satin tailoring, corseted silhouettes, and full-coverage eveningwear. A denim maxi dress with a cropped jacket was paired with a black crochet balaclava covered in oversized crystals, reflecting a streetwear reinterpretation of the niqab, which has been banned in France since 2010. The event’s Paris location connects modest fashion to France’s complex relationship with visible Muslim identity. Think Fashion positioned the move as a natural step for placing modesty within global fashion dialogue, supported by prestigious venues and professional industry execution. Muslim fashion spending is forecast to reach $433bn by 2028, indicating growing retail influence beyond the Gulf.

Read at www.aljazeera.com