The modest fashion movement that has upended the global retail industry by normalising long hemlines, high necklines and floaty silhouettes, has shone a light on clothing that’s both stylish and conservative, including the hijab.
Muslim women who wear the head covering – from Halima Aden in the US and Mariah Idrissi in the UK to Sara Al Madani in the UAE – have become the faces of this style revolution that has major fashion houses catering to it.
In 2017, American label American Eagle released a denim hijab, while a year later Nike released the first mainstream sport hijab, proving that even in the realm of hijabs, there's room for innovation.
And now, the market is starting to flourish with a host of accessories specifically made for those who cover their hair.
Make-up protector
American entrepreneur Nandi K Barker, who lives in Dubai, observed a hole in the market for a beauty tool that would enhance the experience of putting on make-up while wearing a headscarf. Her recently launched Modbeautykeeper is a fabric border that attaches to the headscarf and protects it from make-up smudges and splashes.
"Watching countless beauty tutorials by hijabi beauty influencers on social media and noticing the pesky stains on the left and right sides of their headscarves inspired the invention of the Modbeautykeeper," she tells The National.
While she doesn’t wear a headscarf herself, Barker conducted market research and says she understands the struggles sometimes faced by this demographic of women. “Whether it’s on-the-go touch-ups in the car or testing out their favourite cosmetics in Sephora, all shared the common issue,” she says. “I also spoke with make-up artists – most opt to align tissue around their client’s hijab to prevent make-up stains.”
For three years, Barker conceptualised, researched and tested the Modbeautykeeper, before launching it in the UAE last month, and she is confident residents will understand the appeal behind the product. “Make-up and fashion is an everyday thing in this region – there are no days off,” she says.
Underscarves
The style dilemmas of women who wear the hijab run deeper than simply selecting which headscarf to wear each morning. There are, in fact, a multitude of accessories that assist with the function and appearance of headscarves, according to Melanie Elturk, founder and chief executive of US-based headscarves brand Haute Hijab.
While Elturk offers a range of jersey, chiffon, satin and silk scarves, the designer says one of her best-selling categories is “underscarves”. These fitted caps are crafted from breathable, stretchy and non-slip textiles with ruched panels at the back that contain the hair, and they’re intended to be worn under the hijab.
If I make sure to wear an underscarf, I don't have to worry about having my hijab pinned
Sara Alikhan, a teacher from Dubai, has been wearing the hijab for about 20 years, and says she didn’t wear underscarves when she first started covering her hair. “I was a bit stricter about pinning it,” she says. “Now, if I make sure to wear an underscarf, I don’t have to worry about having my hijab pinned – it prevents it from slipping off, because if you wear a scarf that’s polyester or nylon, not cotton, there’s more chance of it slipping.”
The bands of underscarves can come in different styles. In addition to the basics, Haute Hijab has a criss-cross option that sits at the forehead and, when coupled with a scarf, adds an additional design element to the overall appearance of the head covering.
Scrunchies
Women who cover their hair can also experiment with different shaping techniques; even though their hair is covered, how it is styled underneath the scarf can impact the volume, drapery and fall of the scarf. Often Arab women wear their hair in high buns, so their headscarves appear raised above their heads.
“Generally, I wear a scrunchie around my bun as I like to have my hair tied a little bit higher,” says Alikhan, adding the big hair clips that some women often wear helps to give volume to their headwear. Scrunchies, she says, give a nicer shape and overall look. To help achieve this effect of extra, rounded volume, Haute Hijab sells velvet “shaping” scrunchies in small and large sizes.
Hijab pins
Hijab pins are another accessory women turn to. These are essentially decorative safety pins that can be used to create various draped looks or simply to ensure a headscarf stays in place.
However, even though these pins have been in the market for years – and are sometimes so ornate, even borderline gaudy, that they resemble brooches – they don’t suit the minimalist aesthetic of many hijabi-wearing millennials today. Some, like Alikhan, opt for regular straight pins instead, which offer a more discreet look.
Elturk’s solution was to launch “no-snag hijab magnets”, which are circular, button-like magnets in glossy gold that achieve the same effect of hijab pins, without snagging or puncturing holes in the fabric of scarves.
These have recently been restocked on Haute Hijab and are sold out on Amazon.ae, but magnet pins are also available from Culture Hijab Co in the US, while Turkey’s Bella Hijabs does bejewelled magnets clasps.
Turbans and hats
Turbans and bucket hats are other clever hijab hacks. The former often come pre-tied and knotted, rather than as long scarves that require constant pinning and adjusting.
Halima Aden, who collaborated with modestwear e-tailor Modanisa to design a range of colourful turbans, told The National: "Your hijab, your turban, your scarf, should not be something that brings hassle to your life; girls should be able to put it on and take 20 seconds, max, to fluff it out."
Meanwhile, some hijab-wearing bloggers are tying the hair up under a bucket hat or wearing their headscarves untied, with either side draped over their shoulders and down their torsos, with a bucket hat to top it off. "One of the main perks is that once you have a hat on, trust that your hijab is not going anywhere and you won’t need to redo it all day,” says Sudanese graphic designer Rihab Nubi from Sharjah.
“Also, a lot of us hijabis struggle with awkward tan lines around the forehead during the summertime, and bucket hats help combat that – we love a trendy and efficient hijab hack.”
The demand is clearly high for specialised products that help streamline and enhance the style regimes of hijab-wearing women, who were historically underserved by the fashion and beauty industries. Products launched within this sector may seem niche, but the industry is brimming with entrepreneurial potential and spending power.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Brief scores:
Scotland 371-5, 50 overs (C MacLeod 140 no, K Coetzer 58, G Munsey 55)
England 365 all out, 48.5 overs (J Bairstow 105, A Hales 52; M Watt 3-55)
Result: Scotland won by six runs
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
One in four Americans don't plan to retire
Nearly a quarter of Americans say they never plan to retire, according to a poll that suggests a disconnection between individuals' retirement plans and the realities of ageing in the workforce.
Experts say illness, injury, layoffs and caregiving responsibilities often force older workers to leave their jobs sooner than they'd like.
According to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research, 23 per cent of workers, including nearly two in 10 of those over 50, don't expect to stop working. Roughly another quarter of Americans say they will continue working beyond their 65th birthday.
According to government data, about one in five people 65 and older was working or actively looking for a job in June. The study surveyed 1,423 adults in February this year.
For many, money has a lot to do with the decision to keep working.
"The average retirement age that we see in the data has gone up a little bit, but it hasn't gone up that much," says Anqi Chen, assistant director of savings research at the Centre for Retirement Research at Boston College. "So people have to live in retirement much longer, and they may not have enough assets to support themselves in retirement."
When asked how financially comfortable they feel about retirement, 14 per cent of Americans under the age of 50 and 29 per cent over 50 say they feel extremely or very prepared, according to the poll. About another four in 10 older adults say they do feel somewhat prepared, while just about one-third feel unprepared.
"One of the things about thinking about never retiring is that you didn't save a whole lot of money," says Ronni Bennett, 78, who was pushed out of her job as a New York City-based website editor at 63.
She searched for work in the immediate aftermath of her layoff, a process she describes as akin to "banging my head against a wall." Finding Manhattan too expensive without a steady stream of income, she eventually moved to Portland, Maine. A few years later, she moved again, to Lake Oswego, Oregon. "Sometimes I fantasise that if I win the lottery, I'd go back to New York," says Ms Bennett.
Who are the Soroptimists?
The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.
The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.
Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
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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)
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War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The distance learning plan
Spring break will be from March 8 - 19
Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm
Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19
Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning
Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
