The hijab gets a chic makeover

MANILA, Philippines - More than just a  Muslim woman’s badge of honor, the hijab or head scarf, is having a fashion moment.

Pearl Haya, the Malaysian-based apparel company,  has given the hijab a stylish makeover in bold colors and face-brightening styles.

For so long, Muslim women have been caught in a fashion dilemma of wearing traditional hijab that made them look dowdy or didn’t suit their facial shapes. The designers behind Pearl Haya helped them find flattering ways to wear it.

This season, Pearl Haya’s hijab comes in trendy black-and-white and fuchsia-and-aqua and ebullient colors such as chartreuse and orange.  For  women who likes frou-frou,  their veils come  in soft layers,  delicate ruffles or in bright colors with floral and dotted patterns for panache. 

 Embroidery and workmanship distinguish Pearl Haya apparel from the rest of the market. The designs come in a limited edition, hence are never repeated.

Pearl Haya was founded by entrepreneurs Datin Nor Azlin and Puan Zetty Rosli, who needed to look sharp and current as career women and mothers. However, they lacked options for hijab styles and found the search too time-consuming.  With their savvy in combining fabrics and colors, they have created a diverse collection that appeals to women of all ages.  

Pearl Haya uses lycra, chiffon, corduroy and satin silk that are  easy to wear and wash.  The apparel company always produces fresh designs  from casual to sporty to formal wear. For the daily prayers, Pearl Haya’s telekung or long veil comes in pure white, burgundy and Prussian blue.

At the recent  Manila FAME,  non-Muslim women even wanted to wear Pearl Haya visors after seeing the vibrant colors and delicate patterns.

 “The hijab has become cool,” Puan Zetty Rosli quotes the visitors at the booth as saying.  As a trendy fashion brand, the collections have found their way  outside of Malaysia such as  Indonesia, Brunei, London.