Read the full article here
]]>The first few articles of clothing Nzinga Knight designed were strictly for herself. She had a wedding to attend and couldn’t find something to wear that she found both fashionable and modest, in keeping with her Muslim faith. So she designed her own gown.
Fast forward a few years and she is now the proprietor of her own Brooklyn-based fashion line, Nzinga Knight New York, which has shipped its high-end apparel to retail stores and e-commerce customers in more than 30 countries. In 2014, Knight was the first contestant on the design-focused reality show Project Runway to wear a hijab, the head covering worn by many Muslim women.
Knight has found a promising business at the intersection of style and Muslim culture, where women seeking to be both modest and elegant had few satisfying choices. Knight’s look draws on tradition, but with a contemporary sensibility. “I’m interested in not only having a sense of what I want as a designer, but also having a sense of what’s in the air and what is socially, culturally and emotionally relevant for people,” Knight said in a Brooklyn café near her Clinton Hill studio on a chilly December morning.
Read the full article at The Bridge
Photo by Katie Warren
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I find a lot of the anthems and obsession over hijab on either side of the conversation to be corny. So to my surprise late one summer 2017 night I shed a gansta-tear when I saw Mona’s video for her song “Hijabi”... mainly because it was not corny! [or maybe it was because it was really late at night and I was tired lol]. Today Billboard announced Mona's song to be one of The Best Protest Songs of 2017.... Let's take a moment to give it up to Billboard being woke enough to even create such a list! I loved Mona and her crew’s regal, confident and aloof demeanor in the video, I loved the representation of various shades of Muslim women, I loved the aesthetics of each set design, there was a mood via color and lighting for each room the women were in. I loved that they had twin (I think!) sisters doing a dance. Good lyrics and she has a cool rap style. Not someone trynna get people to like them or accept them, but just an anthem for her and her girls & love for all.
]]>Last week when I attended AfroPunk, the legendary Grace Jones had on a big scarf that acted as a hijab, and a mask when she came out to perform. It was all to create a sense of mystery and drama. No facial expression or nudity needed, she looked fierce and elegant and we knew right away that she was bringing the theatre... which she certainly did, it was one of the most sensational shows I've ever been to. How funny that no matter how explicit a performer is, like Grace Jones, who soon after performed topless, and with body paint, I'll give her that... the body paint cover-up, she knew that it's sexier to start with clothes on and in disguise than just off. Yes, modesty and mystery is sexier. Modesty and mystery allow for The Great Reveal. Grace Jones employed the Great Reveal tactic superficially at the beginning of her show but the real Great Reveal is when modesty and immodesty are employed within specific spaces and are in line with spiritual truths about how we react to coverage and nudity. I won't use the tired Junior high-schoolesque phrase "modest is hottest" but you know what I mean, there's a time and place for everything. In a modestly styled woman or muslima's world, time, place and audience is everything. Modesty is about who you are, and who you are not revealing to.
[Btw, Grace Jones was also a fashion model and major trendsetter, she was an still is a very avant gard artist and performer, and has actually worn a plethora of amazing modest looks that I'm inspired by.... look out for my upcoming post on this, you'll love it]
Let there be great fashion on the outside and "The Great Reveal" with the one(s) we love, those who'll appreciate our effort and vulnerability behind closed doors.
While half naked, people may applaud for a little while, or give compliments, enjoying the cheap thrill, marveling at a persons boldness or trying to help the person feel comfortable, but in the end, revealing to everyone is cheap and its a dis-service to our spirits, which likely feels pretty uncomfortable with a decision to violate it's physical reality. And this certainly isn't about performers alone, it's a human thing.
People who encourage others to get naked and show more skin in public are just voyeurs, peeping toms and straight up wrong. Let that woman have some dignity! is what I think every time I see these Fashion Police type, gossipy people criticize young actresses like Shailene Woodley and other celebs for being "too modest" and saying "she should show more skin". Wait. She's and actress you know, not a stripper!!!
Some people like Shailene and Janelle Monae, have a deeper understanding of modesty's purpose and feel comfortably clothed. The general public shouldn't know where every mole on your body is.
Girl, put some clothes on!!!
Beyonce once said that... A. very. long. time. ago
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