Modest fashion hits New York Fashion Week in abaya-only show

Models took to the runway in traditional Islamic robes

Modest fashion appears to be firmly on the style world's radar, with an abaya-only show debuting at New York Fashion Week.

An abaya is a loose robe-like dress worn by women in parts of the Muslim world, and Indonesian designer Vivi Zubedi showcased her opulent collection in the buzzing US fashion capital on Sunday.

She revealed a contemporary twist on traditional Islamic-style staples including hijabs which were adorned with pearls and topped with baseball hats.

The Kalimantan-inspired collection championed detailed feminine textiles while maintaining a refined elegance that Zubedi hopes will appeal to fashion-forward women everywhere, regardless of how their religious faith influences their style.


 Vivi Zubedi is on a mission to make modest fashion mainstream 
 (Getty Images)

It was a refreshing change from the typical fashion week trend that regularly sees models take to the runway in risque designs that leave very little to the imagination.

Zubedi launched her eponymous brand in 2011 and has quickly established herself as the go-to designer for modest dressers.

It’s not the first time Islamic fashion has appeared on the New York runways.

In 2016, Muslim fashion designer Anniesa Hasibuan showcased her spring/summer collection which saw models walking the runway in an array of decadent and intricately-detailed hijabs.

Modest clothing has been on the rise in recent years, with more women favouring higher necklines and longer sleeves over revealing cuts, regardless of their religious beliefs.

There’s even a luxury shopping website dedicated to modest dressing: The Modist, whose launch coincided with International Women’s Day in 2017.

Spanning from Oscar de la Renta to Missoni, the popular site features a carefully-curated mix of the most stylish, yet modest, pieces from high-end brands.

“Our mission is to build a strong sense of purpose to empower a woman’s freedom of choice and to acknowledge how similar women across the world are, despite our diverse backgrounds, cultures and lifestyles — a relevant conversation at this time,” said CEO and founder Ghizlan Guenez at the time.