Burkhas: the next fashion trend?
January 12, 2007
I saw a woman in a burkha today. Depressing sight–head-to-toe wrinkled fabric as she waddled through the subway underpass, looking sort of like the over-bundled younger brother in “A Christmas Story”. But a couple of years ago, I saw another burkha-clad woman on the train. She appeared totally at ease in her ensemble, which was made of luxurious, flowing fabric, an alluringly sheer veil, and velvety gloves that had some kind of iridescence to them. Could it be the next frontier of fashion–the designer burkha?
BTW, the article under Links about Oprah’s South African School is by Robin Givhan, a Washington Post op-ed columnist who writes very thoughtful and thought-provoking pieces on fashion and its sociopolitical implications. Need to register (free) to view the entire thing.
Entry Filed under: burkha. .
7 Comments Add your own
Leave a Comment
Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <pre> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed
1.
pud burkhawutz | January 13, 2007 at 5:13 am
wutzaburka? a furry hat? is it like a merkin you wear on your head? a toupe for a large mink? will i learn of things of fashion by reading this blog? yippie.
2.
karenpolanski | January 16, 2007 at 1:31 am
a burkha is what they (women) wear in many Muslim-dominated societies. I’m being careful not to say that it’s something that’s totally forced on the women. Some wear it by choice. It’s basically a long veil, usually of dark fabric, that covers the entire body, including the face. Sometimes you can see the eyes, but some burkhas even have this kind of rectanguar beekeeper screen over the eyes. I’m a little surprised that you know what a merkin is, but you don’t know burkhas!
3.
karenpolanski | January 16, 2007 at 1:50 am
Related to this discussion, check out this article on the burqini, a new line of swimwear for the observant Muslim woman!
4.
marylynn | February 8, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Marie Claire had a story – and fashion spread – about burkas and similar middle eastern type clothing. I never knew quite what to make it of. Check back to, I think, November?
5.
Anitre | March 7, 2007 at 3:56 pm
The Burkha debate rages over here in the UK. The outfit is looked at as a divisive tool that prevents the Muslim woman from integrating into society.
You might find the following article amusing.
It was taken from the Scotsman.com News about a terrorist court case currently held in the UK.
“FILM of one of the 21 July bomb-plot suspects apparently fleeing London in a burkha the day after the failed attacks was shown in court yesterday.
Prosecutors say Yassin Omar, 26, was captured on CCTV at Golders Green coach station in north London and at Digbeth coach station in Birmingham, disguised in the traditional Muslim women’s dress.
Clad from head to toe in a black burkha with a white handbag over his left arm, it is alleged 6ft 2in Omar was seen walking with a woman on the evening of 22 July. They made their way to the London terminal where Omar boarded a 6:20pm service to the Midlands, Woolwich Crown Court heard.
Three hours later, Omar got off in Birmingham. He sat on a bench, waited until a red Nissan Sunny car pulled up and was then driven away, Max Hill, prosecuting, said.
The day before, he is alleged to have tried to set off a home-made bomb at Warren Street Tube station in London.”
I actually saw the film footage. The guy looked like a total idiot. His handbag didn’t even match his burkha!
6.
karenpolanski | March 11, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Talk about your fashion faux pas! On a more serious note, I saw another article on the burkhini this week, I can’t remember where, but apparently on the beaches in Australia there have been attacks on Muslim women and men by locals angry about terrorism. The burkhini, which resembles a unitard in day-glo colors, is helping women not only to swim and be lifeguards (one woman reportedly referred to the heavy cotton of the burkha as being “too confining for swimming”–no kidding!) but also to be targeted less by racist thugs.
7.
rohima | May 12, 2007 at 2:24 pm
by the way a burkah is a kind of long dress right down to the ankles with long sleeves it does not include a veil over the face- that’s called a niqab, it doesn’t need to be worn with the burkah just by choice if wanted. i’m happy wearing it i feel much more comfortable as a teenager because my religion has given me a way to preserve my modesty and not live up to todays sterotypes and pressures of society. i feel great in it!