A sports shirt designed by an actual, real life active muslimah? That goes down to one’s knees? Is made of lightweight fabric? Be still my beating heart.
Now if only I wasn’t working 60+ hours a week and had time to exercise.
Hint – she has an awesome fat cat named Squeaky
Exciting exciting news in my inbox this morning. Shukr has started to make hijab friendly exercise clothes! Yaaaay!
Of course, seeing as how they were just released today and I don’t have one to put on my hot little head, I have no idea of the quality. I did email their customer support and ask that they consider making sports tunics that reach down to the lower thigh/above the knee in a very very very very (yes, I said very a lot) lightweight wicking fabric, as well as light weight baggy sports pants. I emphasized how important it is to make exercise clothes in lightweight wicking materials, so that hijabis don’t overheat when exercising in the middle of the summer.
My one experience with a sports hijab was sadly disappointing. When I first opened the package, I was sure I had been sent the wrong hijab – it seemed like it was a blizzard hijab, meant for the deep dark, cold Minnesota winters, not running in the summer. Light weight, wicking fabric is really the key to excellent hijabi exercising. I can’t count the number of times clothes that are too heavy have weighed me down and reduced my performance. Granted, I’m not Olympic level, or even any good at running, but heavy, wet, soggy, non breathable clothes weighing you down makes it hard whether you’re running the Boston Marathon or just around the park.
This sports hoodie, for example, is on the right track, but I think may be too heavy, as they classify it as medium weight/thickness. This top is suppose to be for activewear as well, but again, medium weight (and also, why a big heavy neck that will just add more layers if you pair it with a sports hijab)? And, the sports hijabs I linked to above also say medium weight. It would be nice if these pants were a big baggier, and also, not a 4. I wonder if they had hardcore hijabi exercisers test these out? I would hope that they could make it from something that is a 1, 2 or 3 on their fabric chart:
1. Very Light / Extra Thin
2. Light / Thin
3. Light Medium / Thin Medium
4. Medium Weight / Thickness
5. Heavy Medium / Thick Medium
6. Heavy / Thick
7. Extra Heavy / Extra Thick
I have one tunic that’s a 4, and it’s quite heavy/wintery.
So in general, my advice to Shukr (without the benefit of actually trying out these clothes) is this:
Overall, JazakAllah khair Shukr, for addressing this oft ignored problem. I look forward to trying a piece or 2 our (hint hint AbuS) and also to see what kind of innovations and improvements you all make in the future.
If any of my readers would be interested in this kind of clothing, do contact shukr and let them know, especially in the light weight/wicking fabric department. Also, comment on this post, as I believe I’ll email this to them as well. If they see there’s a market, inshaAllah they’ll deliver :)
ps – dear AbuS, I need to go shukr shopping again :)
The title should be read with a conga line lilt.
Have I mentioned how much I love zumba? It’s the only form of exercise where I reach the end of the hour and I’m like where did the time go and awww, I want more!
There were 2 other sisters at zumba last night, which gave me warm fuzzy feelings.
And speaking of uber cool sisters and zumba -I wanted an adventure and I wanted a job’
OTTAWA — Wafa Dabbagh is many things. She is a tiny, bubbly bundle of energy who loves Zumba fitness. She prays five times a day, keeps an immaculate home and bakes a cake for her beloved neighbours each weekend. She has a bachelor’s degree, a master’s in business administration and a cancer diagnosis, the last of which she treats like a bothersome cold.
Dabbagh is also a pioneer, the first member of the Canadian Armed Forces — and still only one of a handful — to wear a hijab, the Muslim headcovering for women.
At first I was like, ooo, lime green abaya ftw!
And then I was like, omGosh, the bling, it’s blinding!
I may have to write and see if they can make it without the bling. I think I deserve a lime green abaya once I hit my goal weight, don’t you? They’d go great with a pair of hot pink chucks (hint hint husband).
On the other hand, the bling may blind the haters who are seething over such a blatant display of “muslim garb.” Decisions, decisions decisions.
Yah, no probably going to go with no bling. There is such a thing as too many sequins.
I made the mistake of venturing out yesterday with sneakers on. Yeah, not a good plan when you have a foot of wet, slushy, melty snow on the ground. I had to wade through several puddles up to my ankles, leaving my feet soaking and freezing.
So today’s essential muslim garb is:
I was told by my family this weekend that I needed more professional looking clothes for work, so my mom and I went to muslim garb central – Kohls – and she kindly bought me the foundations of a new wardrobe. Alhamdulilah for having short, stubby legs, because the skirts that are meant to hit mid calf go all the way down to my ankles.
So today’s muslim garb:
Btw, if you have a Kohls in your area, it’s 30% off next week with a Kohl’s charge card. I got 3 new skirts, 5 long sleeve tops and5 sweaters for $200 with only the extra 15% off.
This is what I’m wearing today, in lilac. I got another of this style in rose
I’m wearing scary muslim garb tomorrow, most likely with a rose colored top underneath:
If you anticipate even the remotest possibility that you will get sick when you travel, better find a way to travel other than flying:
Some cannot help but think their appearance had something to do with a family’s removal from a plane Tuesday morning at Memphis International Airport.
“My understanding is they were dressed in attire that would indicate some Muslim-type religion,” said airport vice-president Scott Brockman.
The Delta flight in question was operated by Comair and made a stop in Memphis on a journey from Dallas to Toronto.
“On taxi, the crew became concerned when a passenger exited the lavatory after an extended period of time and damage was found in the lavatory,” said a Comair spokesperson in a written statement.
Action News 5 learned that damage was to a toilet which was found slightly askew after the man of the family used it.
Alhamdulilah they weren’t so trigger happy when I was coming home from Egypt in 2004. I had eaten a huge amount of puck cream on strawberries right before I left, thinking it was like whipped cream. Um yeah, no, my tummy was not happy with me. I spent a considerable portion of the flight in and out of the bathroom.
Because he’s ok signing checks that look like this:
And of course, muslim garb watch for 10.28.2010, in which I do not wake up late and actually have time to put on weather appropriate muslim garb:
Aren’t I shameless, wearing these clothes with no regard for the people I may be making nervous?
