“I didn’t have hijab options that corresponded with my outfit.”
Haute Hijab recently announced their first luxury collection and it’s a game-changer for the modest fashion industry. This fashion forward hijab collection is poised to fill the gap for high-end head scarves designed for formal occasions. Melanie Elturk, the founder of Haute Hijab, didn’t have many hijab options nor any modest style influencers to look up to while growing up in Detroit. She decided to change that by launching her company in 2010, which gave Muslim women modern and trendy options for headscarves. This year she is expanding the brand even further by introducing luxury to modest fashion.
What does the hijab mean to you?
Wearing hijab is a choice I made for myself out of devotion to my faith and it’s a choice that has elevated me in so many ways. I don’t wear the hijab because a man told me to. On the contrary, wearing hijab allows me to privatize my sexuality and puts me in control of my body.
What inspired you to launch Haute Hijab?
The inspiration to launch Haute Hijab came from working with Muslim youth in my hometown of Detroit. I noticed that hijab was becoming more of an issue for young girls, not only for the girls who already wore it and struggled to keep it on, but for girls who didn’t wear it and had no desire to put it on. At that time, there were no real hijab fashion influences one could look up to for inspiration. As a result, Haute Hijab was born. Today, we’re the leading hijab brand in the US and I feel so blessed to represent this active, vocal and empowered group of women.
How did you realize there was a need for luxury hijabs in the industry?
When I reflect back at the most special moments of my life, I didn’t have appropriate formal hijab options that corresponded with my outfit. We put so much time and effort into our actual outfit but due to lack of options – our hijab often becomes an afterthought. As such, we at Haute Hijab set out to create a new category in the hijab space. A luxury line for the special moments in a woman’s life.
What was your inspiration behind the collection?
The luxury collection is composed of five separate looks, all crafted from high quality silks, satins, and tulles bedecked with fine details, like embroidered Swarovski crystals. As an all-American Muslim brand designing for American Muslims, we felt it appropriate to take inspiration from Old Hollywood. Your hijab is an extension of your outfit, and should be given as much care and attention as your outfit.
What are your thoughts on the modest fashion movement currently going on?
I am ecstatic. The modest woman is finally being recognized and catered to in the fashion space and we are proud to be an integral part of that movement.
Which piece is your favourite?
Definitely the Celestial Silver Hijab. It’s the crown jewel of our collection with a custom-made crystal applique that was a real labor of love to create. It feels the most royal and majestic of everything we created – I could see Grace Kelly adorning this piece or present-day, Sheikah Mozah of Qatar.
What’s it like to launch luxury hijabs? What were some of the challenges?
We are honoured to be the first hijab brand to bring luxury hijabs to the masses. The challenges definitely revolved around pricing. When we started designing this collection, we were hoping to price them in the $100-$150 range. When we understood how much true luxury fabrics and design elements cost, we realized it would compromise our vision. Instead we opted for the best materials and the best workmanship and had to raise the price (between $250 and $325 USD).
What can we expect to see from the brand this year?
Our short-term goal is to provide an even wider selection of hijabs and branch out into international markets. Normalizing hijab in mainstream society in the west is definitely something we aim to accomplish with our brand. Instilling self-confidence in hijab-wearing women by normalizing hijab is a very important part of the work we do at Haute Hijab.
Take a look at the entire collection below.
Photo courtesy of Haute Hijab
Photo courtesy of Haute Hijab
Photo courtesy of Haute Hijab
Photo courtesy of Haute Hijab
Photo courtesy of Haute Hijab
Photo courtesy of Haute Hijab
Photo courtesy of Haute Hijab
Photo courtesy of Haute Hijab
Photo courtesy of Haute Hijab
Photo courtesy of Haute Hijab
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