Friday 19 February 2016

Opinion Time: Hijabs On The Catwalk

So my mum and dad called me from the bottom of the stairs to tell me there was something that might interest me being featured on ITV 1 6 o'clock news. The featu
re was about fashion designers creating trendy hijabs. While some Muslims are against the idea of a fashionable hijab others think of it as a form of expression.





 
   
      

Fashion shows for both luxury and high street brands have been featuring models wearing hijabs in recent years. But there are many who don't want to see hijabs becoming a trend amongst white people. 


So I've come up with some reasons against and for hijabs on the catwalk: 


Its not a good idea because:  
1. Hijabs are an item of clothing worn by Muslim women to protect their own modesty. Many muslims could be offended if non-muslims were wearing hijabs as a fashion accessory. 

2. It could romanticise a religion when in reality converting to another religion is a serious commitment. 
It is a good idea because:

1. Muslim women are able to express themselves and be holy at the same time. 
2. It has created more diversity on the catwalk and could change socieitie's views on Islam in an era where Muslims are as vulnerable as the Germans during the aftermaths of both world wars. 

Many would think white women wearing hijabs as racist but...kimonos have been fashionable in the West several times. They were first made fashionable in western culture 100 years ago, and have recently been made fashionable again. 


Like hijabs, kimonos hold religious importance in Japan. They are often wore during religious ceremonies and are a symbol of Japanese culture. Nobody has batted any eye about kimonos being racist against Japanese culture when displayed on the catwalk however when Hijabs are displayed people associate it with Racism. Although hijabs and kimonos have very different connections to their cultural beliefs and different purposes, I believe that wearing one item of clothing from one culture is no more offensive to wearing one from another. If there were Arabic models on the catwalk wearing Christian crosses and clothes inspired by christianity people there would be no outrage, whereas if its the other way round there is A LOT more outrage. 





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