Nike announced yesterday that they are launching a line of Pro Hijabs in Spring 2018.
Muslim women wear hijabs as a sign of modesty and privacy within their religion, and up until now, there has not been a major brand (though there have been a few small companies who have unsuccessfully tried) to come out with something like this.
A spokesperson for Nike said the brand was inspired to introduce a performance hijab line after watching Sarah Attar of Saudi Arabia at the 2012 Olympics.
Female athletes are a growing group in the Middle East, and Nike, worth $27 billion, took note, saying they have been developing the product over the last year. The Nike Pro Hijab is made of breathable fabric, and there’s an added length to make sure it doesn’t become untucked during activity.
Ibtihah Muhammad was the first hijabi American to compete at the 2016 Rio Olympics for the United States, as she wore a hijab under her fencing mask. Since then athletes like triathlete Manal Rostom and Zahra Lari, the first figure skater from the United Arab Emirates have become influences for hijab-wearing women around the world, showing them that wearing a hijab is in no way a negative thing, nor does it have to slow down a serious athlete.
