Many people have this stereotype that Muslim women only dress in these long sleeve, long dresses (also known as abayas) that cover them from head to toe, along with a head covering (the hijab). Although many Muslim women dress like this around the world, there are also many who dress in other types of clothing while still dressing modestly. For this project, I wanted to challenge the stereotypes that often surround Muslim women and show just how fashionable they can be. I also wanted to take away from the stereotypes that surround the word ‘modesty.’ When they hear that word they picture a person wearing something similar to that of a blanket. I wanted people to see that modesty doesn’t mean you can’t be fashionable, and that they can and do go hand in hand. Another goal of mine was to show that abayas are a chosen way to dress by some Muslim women. Many of us dress in them for prayer, or wear them on special occasions such as during the month of Ramadan or on the Eid holiday. So I took photos of some of these Muslim women wearing the abaya as well and showed how even that can be fashionable, from the different embroidered designs, to the hijab colors, to the religious/cultural jewelry. It’s a part of Islamic fashion so to speak, and it’s a piece of clothing we shouldn’t be ashamed to wear in public, despite what other people may think.

A little reflection on this project. I had so much fun working on it. As someone who loves to capture the little details, I loved taking photos of the overall outfits along with the jewelry, shoes, the patterns and designs, and more. This was also my first time using a professional studio. It was such a cool experience and I would even say it was my first time feeling like a true professional. Though I am extremely proud of these photos, I know that there’s still a lot to improve on. I definitely learned a lot from trial and error while in the studio, but I loved every second of it, and I can’t wait to go back in. I hope you enjoy looking through this project, and I hope your image of Muslim women and fashion will be altered by the end of it.