If you look at the booming market in the Middle East for fashion wear, it won’t come as a surprise that one of the world’s largest fashion houses are tapping into the market in a big way. Launching a line of abayas (robe-like dresses) and hijabs (headscarves) formed of sheer georgette and satin weave charmeuse fabric into a market that is estimated to be worth more than £200 billion by 2020, Dolce & Gabbana are on fleek. And fashion-conscious Muslim women are stoked:

It’s hard being a Muslim and needing to dress conservatively but loving fashion. Nice ‘going out’ clothes are particularly hard. Everything’s either really dressy or really casual.

With Muslim women making up 22% of the world, Dolce & Gabbana are not the only fashion house to enter into the market. Last year, Unquillo and H&M both produced ranges for the Muslim fashionista, but just as brands DKNY, Oscar de la Renta, Tommy Hilfiger, Mango, and Monique Lhuillier, they produced once-off collections sold around Ramadan. But, now that stats prove the Muslim market is keen for luxury goods all-year-round, it seems the stigma attached to the conservative Muslim who wears the hijab for Allah and only Allah is changing.

Last year, H&M went on to sign 23-year-old Muslim model Mariah Idrissi who wore a hijab while donning the casual clothes of the brand. In a time where radical amounts of Islamophobia are occurring globally, this stand by the ever-powerful fashion houses could assist in changing some people’s views on the situation.

Looking at Dolce’s new line, the clothes are gorgeous, lush and take on the conservative nature of tradition-wear to an intriguing level. Next move on culture appropriation? We will just have to see.

[source: vogue&telegraph]