Clothing

‘Severing ties’: Why don’t Iranians wear neckties?

Anti-necktie sentiment in Iran stems from the 1979 revolution, when the accessory was denounced as a symbol of Western cultural oppression.

Going bananas: Uganda start-up turns plant waste into fake hair, carpets

TexFad is using natural banana fibre to produce environmentally friendly items such as carpets and biodegradable hair extensions.

AMI wows Paris crowds with fashion show on banks of Seine

Alexandre Mattiussi's brand AMI is one of only a few presenting collections with physical events this season.

Mandatory Covid-19 facemasks expose bigoted nature of burqa bans in Europe

Lawyers and critics now say that in light of coronavirus, legal arguments against the burqa ban are much weaker and that it’s time to put an end to the criminalisation of women who choose to cover their faces in public.

Indonesian starts business to make hazmat suit for hospitals

When Maryati Dimursi heard from friends working in hospitals that they don't have enough proper protective gear when dealing with suspected Covid-19 patients, she listened, and then she acted.

The story of the February 28 coup, as never told before

When the secular movement banned the public use of the hijab, life changed for Turkish women. This exhibition shows their perspective.

UN racism expert slams Dutch burqa ban

Tendayi Achiume, the UN Special Rapporteur on racism, highlights what she calls the "Dutch paradox" – which is that the Netherlands' perception of itself as tolerant stops it making any further improvements.

Forever 21 fashion chain files for bankruptcy

Forever 21 was founded in 1984 and, along with other so-called fast-fashion chains like H&M and Zara, rode a wave of popularity among young customers that took off in the mid-1990s.

Kashmir’s disheartened weavers see little hope for shawl industry

Despite pashminas’ reputation for quality, low wages and counterfeit shawls are putting a centuries-old tradition at risk in Kashmir.

Hijab-wearing women struggle to find work in Germany

The neutrality law in eight German states indicates a structural bias against hijab-wearing women and the structural discrimination scuttles their efforts to find suitable jobs.

Prada fashion house to go fur-free

Italy's luxury fashion house will stop using animal fur in its products starting with its Spring-Summer 2020 collection for women.

Did the woman who appeared in a ‘burkini’ empower Muslims or bust a myth?

When Halima Aden, a Somali-American, became the first model to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 'Islamic' attire, the rare move was applauded as a progressive step towards the empowerment of Muslim women. But not everyone is convinced.