We Want Safe Spaces to Support Women Who Wear Hijab
Me and the workshop attendees at Center DC
In a recent article I wrote for Haute Hijab’s blog entitled ‘We Have to Do Better in How We Talk About & Support Those Who Wear Hijab (or Want to)’ , I stated that “the act of wearing hijab for Muslim woman is arguably one of the most hyper-scrutinized acts of worship in Islam.” We face extreme criticism as hijabis both in-person and online concerning our hijabs, and the damage definitely is weighing on us as Muslim women.
So instead of just talking about this problem, or just writing about this problem, a while ago I decided to be a part of the solution to this problem. I launched my online course, Hijab Styling 101 with Hakeemah - an intimate come-as-you-are space where women can take steps along their personal hijab journey in community with other women in a judgment-free, learning environment that is supportive and fun.
A student of mine from that my last cohort, Lauren Schreiber, who graduated the course and absolutely loved it told me she would love to have me host a hijab workshop at Center DC, as faith-based community center she leads in Washington DC. I excitedly agreed!
This was my first workshop back since COVID so I was super excited take my online course to an in-person environment. A group of only ten sisters, it was very intimate and we were able to all talk and get to know each other a bit. There was a mix of sisters in the space who were new Muslims, new hijabis, experimenting with hijab, and long-time hijabis - all coming together to share the joy of covering. At the workshop, we did two hijab tutorials with bamboo hijabs from Haute Hijab and Veiled Collection’s chiffons - two favorite hijab brands. We also did a Q&A session, sharing about about where to shop for different styles and ways to achieve them modestly.
The second part of the workshop was a hijab and modest clothing swap where everyone got to take home some new gently-used clothing. This was definitely a highlight and a fun, free way to both add to our wardrobes while also getting rid of clothing in a sustainable way.
If you are interested in having a Hijab Workshop in your community send me an email to cmbstyling@gmail.com
Love,
Hakeemah
