London hosts ‘Modest’ Fashion Week to celebrate hijabs and long hemlines
London Modest Fashion week kicked off this weekend, showcasing the latest styles in hijabs, abayas and long hemlines. The second installment of the two-day event, held at Victoria House, Bloomsbury, saw models parading down the runway in demure clothing - and rumoured Muslim convert Lindsay Lohan even made an appearance. Running alongside London Fashion Week the event, which charges up to £200 for tickets, features shopping, runway shows, talks and workshops - including a 'sharia legal hub'. More than 40 designers from around the world showcased scarves, hijabs and loose-fitting maxi dresses at the annual style showcase organised by Haute Elan, who say 'modest fashion' is one of the fastest-growing consumer markets. Special guests included Datin Norjuma Binti Habib Mohamed of Malaysia, Muna AbuSulayman of Saudi Arabia, Sara Al Madani of UAE and Lindsay Lohan. The woman behind the 'UK's first luxury hijab' also praised high street stores like Debenhams for stocking modest designs, adding: 'I believe in the next four to five years this will be norm.' Meanwhile hijabi blogger Dina Tokio, who has more than 1 million Instagram followers, last year praised the event as 'revolutionary'. In an interview with Blogosphere magazine, she said: 'I feel like brands are coming on board with diversity now and I think that it’s down to social media and how much talent there is out there.' According to its website, shows featured designs from 1001 Abayas and Saudi designers such as Nasiba Hafez, Samah Khashoggi and Reuniteofficial. Designer Roda Abdi previously described modest fashion as: 'Making sure length of the clothes is appropriate, not sheer, and no slits or cuts which would make the clothes unsuitable for modest wear'. According to the UK e-commerce retailer, the event, described on its website as a 'new and exciting addition to London's fashion calendar', is the first of its kind and aims to boost brands that cater for religious women and those who prefer to dress modestly. As well as runway shows, the event featured shopping, talks and workshops, as well as networking and trade discussions - and a gynaecology clinic.
Lindsay Lohan at the event wearing a hijab (left, with Zeynep Kartal as she attends her AW18 collection show)