The so-called fashion "halal", a term which in Arabic means “lawful” and which is used to indicate what is permitted under the rules of Islamic law, in the design and clothing sector it translates into more conservative combinations, in which the shapes are not accentuated or disappear completely and in which the garment can be (or not) covered.
- Western stereotypes they have often portrayed this type of fashion as oppressive, a veritable violence against Muslim women, but the Generazione Z and the new ones content creators that populate social media feeds have shed new light on what has always been a reality at best misunderstood and, at worst, deliberately demonized.
Modest, Yup, but not silent, sober, but not homologated, and respectful, but not enslaved: these are the women who symbolize halal fashion, also known as "modest fashion", A cultural phenomenon initiated by Muslim women, but which is also involving individuals of other religious faiths, who re-read the concept of "modesty" depending on your background and preferences.
In Italy it is aya mohamed, Italian girl of Egyptian origin living in Milan, to embody modest fashion: known on social networks as "Milanpyramid", Aya is a fashion and beauty content creator who has built a solid network of contacts and collaborations with big names in the fashion world, such as Gucci, Prada e Valentino.
“I started because I wanted to make people aware of issues that I have very much at heart", tells. "I wanted to give a new image of a veiled Muslim girl. Unfortunately, the mainstream mass media have done nothing but perpetuate a very negative image of Muslim women, and this did not belong to me. My goal has always been to break this stereotype and tell my story ".
See this content on Instagram
Not only beauty, but also identity, a value that too often is associated with the world of politics, but which in Aya's vision translates into activism, social commitment, celebrazione e rediscovery of their roots; many of the dresses worn by Milanpyramid, for example, come from her mother's wardrobe, which the girl defines as elegant and romantic, perfect for experimenting with new colors, shapes and style.
"I like to be versatile and fluid in my style. Experimenting is fun because I believe that the essence of a person is never lost by changing what he wears”Aya then explains. “By now taking a tour on social networks you will find the contents of many modest girls, each with her own style. There are those who dress more gothic, some y2k, others have a cottagecore or Parisienne aesthetic. I think it is not at all difficult to follow trends while dressing modestly".