Paris designers react to burka ban

French designers showing at Paris fashion week, including Jean-Charles de Castelbajac and Marithé François Girbaud, presented burka-inspired designs as part of their collections.

Following a heated debate in the country regarding a planned ban of the full-face veil, models paraded down the runway at both shows wearing burka-inspired, face-covering designs.

Marithé François Girbaud used the clearest references, combining floor-lenth, face-obscuring veils with their outfits.

Jean-Charles de Castelbajac went for modern interpretations of the face veil, pairing hats with viewing windows with his sometimes cartoonesque creations, which were inspired by the Middle Ages - a fact that is not likely to help supporters of the burka.

The burka, often considered a symbol of female oppression and one of dated Muslim tradition, previously inspired Givenchy's fall/winter 2009 show, where creative director Riccardo Tisci presented harem pants, black hoods, and ornamented face veils.

A ban of the burka in France has been debated since last year, causing Paris women's rights activists Ni Putes ni Soumises to demonstrate on International Women's Day.

According to the Financial Times, the planned legislation has been backed by other European countries including Germany and the UK.