Styled by Yalda Golsharifi and Tamara Al Gabbani
New York fashion house DKNY has released their ‘Islam-inspired Ramadan collection.’
Styled by two Middle Eastern Muslim women from the fashion industry, Yalda Golsharifi is the fashion editor of Styles magazine and Tamara Al Gabbani is a fashion designer in Dubai; the collection has caught the attention of the Muslim world. The result of the religion-based capsule is a collection of flowing, tea-to-floor length dresses and skirts, coolly loose separates, tops with modest necklines and garments with added slips so as to not reveal limbs in the light. One gorgeous, black-and-white A-line graphic print maxi skirt has a modified version of the thigh-high slit trend, with a split starting just below the knee.
The brand took the collection beyond just fashion by asking Golsharifi and Al Gabbani, both whom celebrate Ramadan, their favorite things about the sacred month of fasting and prayer.
“I love the food, the gatherings and staying up late,” said Golsharifi about Ramadan. Al Gabbani, on the other hand, loves “volunteering to aid the needy” during the holy month.
During the blessed month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs during the daylight hours. As a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on God, and practice self-sacrifice, Ramadan is much more than just not eating and drinking.
Muslims are called upon to use this month to re-evaluate their lives in light of Islamic guidance.
Muslim journalist, Bina Shah said, “The fact that this collection has been styled by Muslim women who are professionals in the fashion industry is a brilliant move on the part of DKNY: these women aren’t just experts in their field, but they know the context and requirements of the women the collections are aimed for.”
“The only thing DKNY did wrong was to include a well-known hadith (saying of the Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him) on the Web site: “Ramadan is the month whose beginning is mercy, whose middle is forgiveness and whose end is freedom from fire.” They edited the saying to remove the words “from fire” – which refer to hell – and did not attribute it to the Prophet. This can be corrected immediately, either by removing the quote completely or using the quote in totality and telling us who said it.”
