The majority of people in the world currently dress in “world fashion,” a simplified and low-cost version of Western apparel, typically a T-shirt with slacks or a skirt, produced on a large scale. However, in other regions of the world, there are several smaller and specialized fashion companies that cater to unique national, regional, ethnic, or religious audiences.
The design, production, and marketing of saris in India and boubous in Senegal are two examples. On a smaller and more regional basis, these industries coexist with the global fashion industry.
The widespread adoption of the hijab (religiously suitable wear) by Muslim women not only in the Middle East but throughout the Islamic world in the early twenty-first century was an important milestone in the field of ethno-religious dress.
Veiling norms and fashions vary greatly among the millions of Muslim women who live in a variety of nations around the world. For some, veiling entails a complete withdrawal from the vagaries of fashion. Other ladies, including those who must wear modest clothing in public, can wear trendy European styles under their more conventional street clothes.
Others have searched out appearances that are both stylish and modest. The international market for modest styles was booming around the turn of the twenty-first century. Muslim and non-Muslim designers created a growing number of suitable and stylish designs, and there were various fashion blogs and magazines aimed at Muslim women.
As demonstrated in efforts to provide modest yet effective swimwear and sportswear for Muslims, certain designers and producers faced not just the aesthetics of modest clothes but also the practical obstacles involved with conservative dress.
