Saeedah didnt create the hoodie abaya exclusively for Muslim women something shes frequently asked about on social media.
As she says on TikTok, you dont have to be Muslim to enjoy modesty.
Upon graduating, she landed a 9-to-5 in the humanitarian sector that eventually left her unfulfilled.
She noticed she dressed conservatively compared to the designers she spoke with, her head adorned with a hijab.
But unfortunately for Saeedah, most modest garments she came across in London seemed more suited for older women.
Each collection release features a different message.
As she says on TikTok, you dont have to be Muslim to enjoy modesty.
In her mind, the latter marked her biggest disadvantage.
Initially, Saeedah wrote it off.
(I didnt think Id get it, she confessed.)
But 30 minutes before the deadline, she impulsively decided to try.
Ultimately, her acceptance into the program proved to be her break into the fashion industry.
VFiles also offered Saeedah a platform to define the identity of her label.
For Saeedah, Iqra embodies the ethos of her label: unapologetic modesty.
After her experience with VFiles, Saeedah knew exactly how she wanted to promote her hoodie abaya.
Ultimately, she wanted it to resonate with women in alternative scenes worldwide, from London to Brooklyn.
I dont want them to wear my clothes and feel like theyre on their modesty journey or unlike themselves.
Beyond promoting her label, Saeedah leverages social media to document her journey as a designer.
On TikTok, she shares insightful Easter eggs that inform her final designs and inherently educate viewers about Islam.
In authentically expressing herself and her spirituality, Saeedah asserts her agency and voice without waiting for external validation.
At the end of the day, fashion is a form of storytelling.
The appreciation for the garment is there; the appreciation for the creativity and the ideas is there.
But the appreciation for the community is not necessarily there, and thats really important.
Thats something the fashion industry needs to be held accountable for.
Its clothing; everyone should be free to wear whatever they like.
If they want to cover or not cover themselves it should be a choice.
A lot of people think fashion isnt political or that they dont have a say in politics.
Curiously, small crosses and the Star of David are still permitted to be worn in public schools.
This is further highlighted by the recentban on French athletes wearing hijabsat the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.
Later, reports from pro-reform media source IranWirestated thather house had been destroyed.
Although Nike isnt the first Western brand to offer a sports hijab, its undoubtedly the largest.
Its even since released the Pro Hijab 2.0 and the Swim Hijab.
It wasn’t merely about catering to an existing market but about creating space and visibility.
As soon as Nike unveiled the Pro Hijab, Saeedah wasted no time visiting the brands website.
I just remember clicking the menu and hovering over Women.
Then, there were options for football, swimwear, and modest, she recounted.
I remember clicking on the modest section, and there was Ibtihaj Muhammad.
In that moment, she felt like she was finally being seen.
Would it neutralize any cultural and religious connotations?
While Saeedah didnt initially hear back from anyone at Nike, she continued to pursue her vision independently.
There are many ways of showing respect, right?
In this symbiotic synthesis, Saeedah Haque, the person, inevitably begets Saeedah Haque, the label.
It means Im making progress, Saeedah resolutely affirmed.
Were not there yet, but were on the right path.
For more from Saeedah, visit her website to check out her label and the hoodie abayahere.
Also be sure to follow her onTikTok hereandInstagram here.
