Abaya, A Fashion?By Safoora Masood
While many young girls in the west are engaged in feud between their faith and comical suburban laws, confused in differentiating the ‘veil’ as sign of purity or epic of oppression, females in the east are engrossed in taking their religious beliefs in to a new lime light, the abaya fashion.
Definition
“An abaya is a women's garment worn in Saudi Arabia, and sometimes other places in the Persian Gulf region. It is a long-sleeved, floor-length, loose, usually black, garment worn over other clothing when a woman leaves the protection of home. It is worn with a headscarf (hijaab) and sometimes with a veil (niqab).” (Wikipedia)
Still new to the world of hijaab, it took me months to understand what the hubbub is all about, and trust me I am still in the ‘Learning Mode’. This black over garment covers the whole body in two parts, one piece for the head (Shiela) and one from shoulders to ankle (Abaya). One long look at any pavement in Dubai and you will sure be amazed by the intricacy and subdued styles this hijaab couple is launched in. Its never been just a black cloth covering the body to hide the body shape and clothes inside, its so much more than that.
Abaya, a fashion
Throughout the Middle East, women can be seen donned in different styles of abayas. Moroccan’s prefer very loose, embroidered and colored abayas, loose on arms and waist line, Oman and UAE females hold a lot of similarity in choosing black as the main color worn from the front side and buttoning on shoulder side. Saudis on the other end wear it from the top totally covering the garment underneath, also a popular style in UAE, its adorned with crystal accents and colorful embroidery. Irani females, the traditional ones, prefer it loose all over with finger loops (a loop placed around thumb), the between shoulders part of this polyester pull over is also used as a second covering of the head.
Now that you are familiar with some absolutely common styles, I’ll get to the second level, the fashion!
Please don’t for two minutes think that its just a symbol of religious beliefs, its trendy in its very delicate way. The way the shiela is worn shows how important and ‘in’ you are. Whether you cover the entire head, leave some hair loose(do notice the especially molded fringes), how the oblong scarf is carried is also essential, some may circle just once and leave the ends loose( its feminine to keep fixing the shiela), others circle twice and pin, some may cover their chins, some females place the open end after two circles over their head so that the embroidered work frames their face.
Now the abaya for the growing females today is a gift at puberty, so we make the best of it. The design on the abaya is so important that its impossible to keep a tab on changing trends. Rather then being delivered seasonally, abaya fashion is just dynamic. For the top and trendy females here its essential to wear the latest and unseen trend intimidating one and all. Although stone work is always a favorite, sequins, black to all color embroidery, tussles, lace work, metal rings, crushed material as band on shoulder, back or front and commonly seen. For those who have lavish money, the work doesn’t stop here, its about ‘Savoroski’ crystals, ‘Pashmina’ patch work, glass work, gold thread embroidery, designer styles and labels etc. The work can be found on different parts of the abaya, sides, back, front, sleeves or bottom area.
The topic doesn’t stop here dear friend, the cloth is again a major issue, the most expensive is of course ‘Saloona’. Other in demand, believe it or not is ‘Internet’ and ‘Lexus’, for a computer savvy person like me, this is excruciatingly hilarious. Then there is Santoon, Laser, Cobra, Elisabeth and Saudi Crab. Most common are georgettes and chiffon mixed with polyester or cotton.
Price tag? Starting from a measly 70 to 80 bucks, it can reach 4 to 5 thousand for good cloth, and for the extremely privileged ones 7 to 8 thousand is just a normal price.
How the fashion went wrong?
Starting from the Mesopotamia era, when veiling was the sign of privileged and rich, different trends have ruled the female ‘veiling’.
How a female carries herself in this hijaab couple, although very personal has its impact on the environment around. Even if its a fashion, as long as we, the muslimas, don’t forget why we wear it, I think we’re on the right track. Millions today follow it the way it should be except some young girls who’ve exploited it.
Question is why do some girls take is as just a burden? Fashion is for the world, inside its anger, why?
Simple, its about force. As many of the girls today in the Arab world are simply asked to wear it from the first sign of puberty, they don’t respect it. In Saudi Arabia most of the girls detest it because its forced, they have no option. Its like their dream to get out of the country some how and shed off the load.
In my opinion, let them learn, think about it themselves.
If you don’t understand what I’m saying then have a quick look at some girls who take off their abayas when they enter colleges, or loosen the shielas when in public. The girls who wear skimpy clothes inside and front open abayas. Those highly illiterate but irreligious girls who loose all hijaab the second they enter a party hall. Either its parental force, laws or peer pressure. Rather then serving the purpose of being less attractive they exploit the purpose and make masses look bad. If you have no idea what I’m saying then either you are not from the Arab world or too lost in their own life.
To date its common to find different Islamic sects making different statements and Fatwas about their belief in Hijaab; while many consider hijaab as a head-cover, some believe it’s a complete body shroud, while others contradict with ‘no solid traits have been justified in Quran and Sunnah’.
I am a muslim, I am a female and yes I get confused too. Reason why I started wearing it is because of my multiple studies on the topic, I’m from Pakistan and no-one does it there, agreed. Its about passion, religion and need for me. It took me twenty years to realize the importance of hijaab and these girls are forced at twelve and thirteen, see the difference. They need guidance and education not force and intimidation. Think about it.
Abaya, a fashion, a globally personal topic, I hope I got some message across to the masses out there. Frankly, I can’t wait to buy a new abaya, I want it with side embroidery and maybe crystal work and double layered or elastic sleeves, Wowie!
