Nike Will Introduce Hijabs for Muslim Athletes in 2018
Fresh off of the recent debut of a hijab at Yeezy Season 5 during NFYW, the traditional Muslim garb is making another major fashion leap into athletic wear courtesy of Nike. The company has been working on this project for over a year in efforts toward being more inclusive of all athletes. They tapped pros like United Arab Emirates's Amna Al Haddad, Nike+ Run Club Coach Manal Rostom and Emirati figure skater Zahra Lari to help come up with a functional design that still meets the cultural requirements. Zahra is already breaking hers in and seems pretty impressed with its results.
"I was thrilled and a bit emotional to see Nike prototyping a hijab," Lari told CNN. "I've tried so many different hijabs for performance, and ... so few of them actually work for me. But once I put it on and took it for a spin on the ice, I was blown away by the fit and the light weight."
Created with a single layer of lightweight polyester mesh, the Nike Pro Hijab is both breathable and opaque. It will be available in black, vast grey and obsidian, with the brand’s signature white swoop on the side. The Nike Pro Hijab will be available early next year.
News of the sports-friendly hijab follows up a controversial Nike ad released in the Middle East a few weeks ago. The ad shows successful female professionals from different parts of the Arab world pursing their athletic dreams while a narrator poses the question, "What will they say about you?" The video challenging cultural and traditional norms went viral, instantly sparking a debates via social media.
Look out for the Nike Pro Hijab available for purchase in the company's Spring 2018 season.