Hijab & Fashion cannot merge?

Assalamualaikum,

I'll confess, I love you nahh every time I read any articles, its hard for me to absorb everything. I guess its because I already created a mindset on the issue and I haven't freed myself enough from it to accept new ideas.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't agree that fashion & the Hijab can't possibly merge.

I read the article related to this in Solusi (the magazine), the newest one themed Polygamy - I think its the latest one.

The writer wrote of an opinion (not hers) "fashion is a Western ideology and Hijab is purely Islamic" that's why the Hijab cannot be about fashion.

I guess its too harsh an opinion. There is no law in Islam that rejects all western ideologies just because they are...western.

This is what I think about fashion. (since this is about the Hijab, I guess its only about women). First, I don't think fashion is from the West. 



Chanel, Burberry, Coach et cetera are creations (i'm not sure where they originated, lets say the West Ha ha) made popular and deemed upper-class, which make us label-conscious and continuously (indirectly) heading that direction. But that's fine with me, if you have the money, the means and you think you can still control yourself (financially and mentally I mean)-  liking,buying and following the labels are fine.


But fashion is different. Fashion may be heavily influenced by labels & individuals (celebs), but fashion is quite universal. It differs from one area to another. Johoreans wear things differently from Singaporeans - ironically, we're one bridge away (lol). Johoreans wear things differently from KL-ites, if you are observing you'd notice.


The Baju Kurung, is a fashion statement. and its not from the West. Fashion originates from society - their mentality, creativity, education, culture. 

Link

by the way, on my tab I have Googled "define: fashion" and it says "A popular trend" Lets all hail Google for the help hehh X)


When fashion is part of a culture, we have to now admit that Islam doesn't reject culture. It integrates culture to be Islamic, 

I read a book on Clothing and Fashion by Maududi. In the book, it was told that there was this time during Saidina Umar (I'm quite sure it was his time but I'll have to check back) that some non-Arabs embraced Islam and asked if they should "dress" and "act" like Arabs in order to be Muslims. the Amirul Mukminin (Umar) said no. Dress and act as how you have used to but never discard Islamic values or contradict Islamic laws.


And another part was when a foreigner (is this the word?) gave him a hat (something like that) which wasn't part of Arab culture/dressing norm, and the Khalifah wore it at times. 


The one thing Islam rejects (according to Maududi) is the entire imitation of another culture (i.e West) to the extent that you do not want to be known and will not be known as a Muslim & a Malaysian (just an example)


Because entirely copying and imitating another culture's physical image, is void and meaningless because it's from the mindset that, our own culture is outdated and isn't good enough (simply said), while Islam is supposed to elevate your culture and furnish culture with Islamic values. (ceh macam betul je aku cakap erk)


second, regarding the Hijab. It is absolutely not a fashion statement per se. It is a symbol of Taqwa. 


But the Baju Kurung is fashion, right?! (emotional young woman fighting for the Baju Kurung lol). The Hijab is also a form of fashion. If you noticed, around the world, Muslims (women) wear it differently and mostly according to their country's norm. There is no such thing as the "Muslim attire", there are only "attires which we wear in accordance to the Islamic teachings"


And because human minds evolve, they generate creativity. Which is how the Baju Kurung was founded, and how it evolved, how other trends evolve.

So at one point we'd ask, where's the limit? What is too much of fashion?

For me, "too much", is also very subjective. 


Yes the Hijab is meant to be something to "cover" and it shouldn't be overly "attractive" to the opposite gender. 


It is meant to cover women's beauty, the Hijab isn't meant to simply replace it.






But I agree with my friend's opinion, she once answered another girl's question about Tabaruj (exposing your beauty to be noticed, lol - *can think of no better words) . She (the friend) said "if you're among a lot of other women, and you are immediately noticed first; because of what you are wearing, or your make-up, or your perfume, or sounds you make, thats Tabaruj"