Vogue veils: Dolce & Gabbana's new high-fashion hijab collection
Couture fashion house releases luxury line of traditional Muslim garb in effort to cater to Mideastern tastes.
By JPOST.COM STAFFUpdated: JANUARY 12, 2016 11:58Woman wearing an abaya walks past a fashion clothing store in Lebanon(photo credit: REUTERS)
Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana, known for its eclectic bohemian look, recently surprised the fashion world when it launched a new line of hijabs and robes, catering to a growing fashion-forward, but modest Muslim demographic.The new collection, entitled "The Abaya Collection: The Allure of the Middle East," features an array of abayas, loose robes worn by women, and hijabs, as first reported earlier this month by Style.com.The line, which blends modern high-fashion elements with demure elements such as high necklines, neutral tones and loose silhouettes, is seen as the company's first step into the relatively-untapped Muslim sector.The Muslim consumer market has seen significant growth in recent years, with statistics indicating that Muslim shoppers spent $266 billion on clothing and footwear in 2013, according to a Reuters report on global Islamic economy. That number is expected to double by 2019.Dolce & Gabbana's appeal to a more international market underscores a larger movement among designers to broaden their consumer base. Similarly, DKNY recently launched a clothing line to coincide with the Muslim holiday Ramadan, with other designers following suit, such as Tommy Hilfiger and Mango.