Asalaamu alaikum! Bailey Umm Ibrahim AKA OldSchoolHijabi here, Yess….Finally! Summer is rapidly upon us here in the northern hemisphere which means sunshine, warmth and if you are a Hijabi or a Niqabi; most likely its the time of year when you are sweating profusely in your polyester hijabs and overgarments.
The issue with that…While most mainstream clothing companies either shrink their designs down to allow for more skin exposure (which we as Hijabis & Niqabis cant wear outside the house) OR manufacture their clothing in summer friendly cotton, linen and bamboo (again, sometimes not ideal, they may not be covering enough). Most Islamic clothing companies remain firmly fixated on producing attire in synthetic fabrics such as polyester even though such fabrics are often not very breathable or environmentally friendly.
Caring for the environment is our responsibility as Muslims…
There are so many reasons why we should be trying to transition our wardrobes over to one that incorporates more natural fabrics, particularly when it comes to items of clothing that we will be wearing extensively. because not only is it better for the environment but also for ourself.
Lets not forget that taking care of our environment is actually a part of our Amanah (ุฃู ุงูุฉ) or moral responsibility as Muslims. We really ought to be thoughtful with the resources we are given.
Why synthetic fabrics are harmful to our health & environment
Here are some of the most common reasons why we should be transitioning towards natural fabrics in our clothing…
- Polyester fabric is produced from plastic AKA petroleum AKA oil. There are very real worldwide coinsequences for our insatiable appetite for oil
- The chemicals used to finish or produce polyester textiles can actually leech into the skin with wear; particularly when you are hot & sweaty!
- Products made of plastic do not degrade naturally after use; they will eventually become harmful microplastics which are inhaled or consummed in our everyday lives.
Note: this is just a brief overview, there are plenty of authoritative research available online which is more indepth. My goal here is just to do a short overview, Allahu Aโalam.)
Why wearing natural fabrics this summer is a better option as a Hijabi/Niqabi/Modest girlie.
Honestly, there are truly so many more reasons why we should be trying to incorporate more eco-friendly fabrics into our wardrobe other than the obvious ones above.
Namely; You wont feel as hot, sweaty, stinky or gross when wearing these items for extensive periods of time. These fabrics naturally breath; there is air flow and moisture absorbed when worn is transferred back into the air instead of trapping that moisture against the body!
Personally, I loath feeling hot and sweaty in the summer yet I dont want to stay home in the air conditioning, I prefer to take part in society and yes, these fabrics do help to ensure I can do so.
...also, a side perk for us covered girlies is less UV exposure!
Why donโt more Islamic clothing companies embracing eco-consious fabrics?
Unfortunately, mainstream consumer culture has forever altered our shopping expectations; we want our clothing *now*, to be cheap and to be dispoable…here are a couple reasons Iโve found why it can be dififcult to find eco-friendly Islamic clothing & attire.
- Price: The cost of manufacturing eco-friendly attire can be prohibitivly expensive (for many people) due to the cost of the fabric itself.
- Lack of ready availability: In many Muslim majority countries polyester remains the fabric of choice for womens attire due to ready availability of the fabric in marketplaces.
- Style: Most Islamic clothing companies that produce attire using eco-friendly fabrics produce them in timeless designs which are simple. They tend to not be as trendy as disposable fast fashion is!
- Time: It takes more effort and time to care for an eco-friendly garment, takes time to search for an item you like and it takes more time to build a sustainable wardrobe. Some sisters just dont have the luxury of time.
The List; 5 Islamic clothing companies that solely utilize eco-friendly fabrics.
Wait, thats actually a bit of a lie. Itโs incredibly difficult to find an Islamic clothing company solely utilizing eco-friendly fabrics such as cotton, linen, bamboo or flax. Most Islamic clothing companies online do not solely carry attire in these fabrics, most have mixed collections where they release some attire in eco-friendly options while also having synthetic options as well.
But, that is OK. It is a start. At the end of the day we need options and if that means we can have even a couple eco-friendly options in our wardrobe, well, some is better than none!
so, without further adieu…
5 Islamic clothing companies with majority eco-friendly options
These companies carry mostly eco-friendly options for modest wear + self-report ethical manufacturing practices.
(note: some of these companies do only 1-2 releases a year, so get on their mailing list!)
- Ruh (UK)
Primarily eco-friendly designs produced in India & Pakistan.
- MyJilbabiStore (UK)
They have an extensive cotton collection; these items are produced in Pakistan.
- Wraps of Nature (Germany)
They only utilize natural fabrics; everything is made in Europe.
- Vela (USA)
Headscarves produced primarily in India, primarily in Modal & silk, some non-eco friendly fabric options as well.
- Mishwara (USA)
Small batch, artisan made headscarves produced in Mauritania using gaz, the locally preferred cotton fabric.
Conclusion
I hope this post provides a great entry point into the world of eco-friendly Islamic clothing and why it is important to slowly integrate more natural materials into our enveryday lives; particularly out wardrobes this summer!
Personally, while its not possible for me completely stop wearing polyester or synthetic fabric garments I have started the slow transition over to less plastic in my wardrobe (and home!).
Keep an eye out on my reviews coming up for some of the more eco-friendly options Iโve purchased recently and am integrating into my everyday style + If you know of any other Islamic clothing companies that belong on this list, please share them as a comment!
-Thanks for reading, BarakhAllahFeeki.
Bailey UmmIbrahim
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Salaam alaikum! I use Canva at work but I didnโt realize they have this format! I guess I prefer the traditional blog style, but this new format would be good for sharing on social media (especially Instagram). I would love to have more eco-friendly clothes in my wardrobe inshaโAllah, so thank you for sharing these businesses!
wa alaikum as salaam! hey sis!JazakhAllahKhairoon for your response. Yeah, I think I prefer the traditional blog post style myself but hey, its also good to try new things! In the next few days I should have this post reformatted. enshaAllah. Keep in touch!