It all started on Eid.
Hilal Ibrahim, now 26, couldn’t find the perfect headscarf to wear for the holiday.
As a high school student living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she didn't always have access to the clothes she needed.
“I ended up going to our local fabric outlet here and essentially created the first hijab," she said.
“Shortly after, I really put the vision for the company together and, as a result, Henna & Hijabs was born.”
The company was launched in 2017 and it’s gone from strength to strength ever since.
The young designer recently created a line for department store chain Nordstrom and customers can now buy her wares in 52 stores throughout the US and Canada.
“We were able to create a really beautiful collection of pastels and summer colours and materials perfect for weddings, graduations and the Eid holiday.
“There are many successful, accomplished, inspiring Muslim women here in the United States and this collection celebrates exactly those women and uplifts our voices."
The new Nordstrom collection includes five styles, from everyday wear to special occasion silk, and offers rectangular cuts as well as square-cut scarves.
Jen Jackson Brown, president of Nordstrom Product Group, said: “We hope this collection provides a sense of pride, excitement and confidence for an otherwise underrepresented community of women.”
Ms Ibrahim worked in the healthcare industry before making the jump into fashion, and it’s something she’s still passionate about today.
During the coronavirus pandemic, her company supported Muslim front-line workers by donating over 700 hijabs to healthcare systems across Minnesota.
“We really noticed a need for hijabs,” she said.
She has also received messages from women grateful that not only are hijabs now available in stores, but they can be safely picked up curbside, adding a layer of security to the shopping experience.
Ms Ibrahim says she is looking to lift up young Muslims, pointing to her own struggle with buying clothes. Her goal is to remind them that they belong in the US, too.
“When my sisters, my aunts and my mother are able to walk into a store and see themselves on a mannequin, it creates a sense of belonging and an identity.”
The young designer says the supportive reaction from her family, friends and the Muslim community has been humbling.
“The need has really been addressed," she said.
After the initial success of her venture, Ms Ibrahim shows no signs of stopping. Making more clothing options available for Muslims around the world remains at the core of her vision, she says.
“My biggest hope is to inspire many young Muslim girls, and I say that not only as a young Muslim woman, but also as someone who reflects on a quote that I often think about a lot: be who you needed when you were younger," she said.
Young Muslim women need to know that they can dream big and reach their aspirations, she says, and know and that nothing is impossible.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier
UAE results
Beat China by 16 runs
Lost to Thailand by 10 wickets
Beat Nepal by five runs
Beat Hong Kong by eight wickets
Beat Malaysia by 34 runs
Standings (P, W, l, NR, points)
1. Thailand 5 4 0 1 9
2. UAE 5 4 1 0 8
3. Nepal 5 2 1 2 6
4. Hong Kong 5 2 2 1 5
5. Malaysia 5 1 4 0 2
6. China 5 0 5 0 0
Final
Thailand v UAE, Monday, 7am
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
