– Modest clothing –
While France – home of Europe’s biggest Muslim population – bans face-covering veils, some of its big fashion houses were among the first to tentatively embrace Muslim-specific style.
DKNY – owned by French giant LVMH – pioneered the “modest clothing” trend with a “capsule collection” aimed at the Middle East for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan two years ago.
But designer de Castelbajac, who has dressed singer Lady Gaga, said he had grave misgivings about the trend. “Fashion is secular and universal, and should bring hope.”
Veteran feminist Agnes b had earlier vowed to “never do it. There is something obscene about offering clothes to rich women from countries where many are fleeing bombs trying to keep their veils on their heads.
“We should not normalise clothing which is significant in the way women are seen,” she told the Parisien daily.
In January, Dolce & Gabbana became the first major western brand to directly aim at capturing a corner of the Islamic fashion market – estimated to be worth $260 billion (230 billion euros) – with its Abaya range.
Its collection of 14 abayas or ankle-length dresses, which it matched with embroidered headscarves and hijabs, was broadly praised at the time.
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