Seven Ethical Muslim Brands
In the desperate and seemingly endless search for modest, fashionable, and affordable clothing options, one name comes up over and over — Shein. The company is valued at a mind-blowing $100 billion and outstrips countless other brands in the fast-fashion industry. As an avid former Shein-shopper, trust me when I say it’s so easy to get swept up by the thousands of cute options at jaw-droppingly low prices.
So then what’s the problem? Turns out, you don’t have to look far to find that along with many other fast-fashion brands, Shein cuts corners when it comes to how they treat their employees, from their working conditions to their (honestly startling) number of work hours.
If you’re like me and have looked through the dishearteningly long list of fashion brands to avoid, chances are you’ve probably had to cross off some of your favorites. As if it wasn’t already difficult enough to find hijabi-friendly options, having to limit your choices further is pretty unnerving. Luckily, there’s hope!
I did a quick dive into some not-so-shady fashion brands and came up with 8 companies you can trust to keep it real and ethical. What’s even better is that these are all Muslim brands! Let’s get into it:
Shukr
If you’re looking for a brand with a lot of options (and I mean a lot) for both men and women, Shukr’s got you. Their hijabs are conveniently categorized by fabric and include everything from the traditional Amira hijab to jersey and chiffon.
A quick scroll through their website will reveal a clothing category for every occasion. There’s a modest sportswear section, one for everyday abayas (separate from the fancier abayas), and even one for maternity and nursing.
According to the website, Shukr believes in Fair Trade, guarantees workers’ rights, and pays its workers above-average wages.
Fayéna
Chances are, if you’ve heard of Fayéna, you know about their mulberry-silk-lined undercap and the world of difference it can make for your hair. Their ‘About Us’ section gives quite a bit of background on the “eco-friendly fibers” in their hijabs, along with the entire step-by-step process of creating undercaps.
Admittedly, when compared to the variety of options companies like Shukr and Veiled Collection boast, Fayéna does seem to be more limited. In my opinion, though, Fayéna’s transparency makes up for it and truly sets them apart from other brands.
Silq Rose
At a glance, I was pretty blown away by Silq Rose, to say the least. The company formally advertises itself as “The Sustainable Online Hijab Store” and is centered on changing “the negative forces polluting our world with unnatural lifestyles, social injustices and disconnection.”
Silq Rose has a solid selection of hijabs and uses biodegradable, toxin-free fabrics made of natural fibers. And they do this all while ensuring that each piece (and there are many) is produced ethically.
Veiled Collection
This one is a personal favorite of mine. On top of their affordable and extensive selection of hijabs in a gorgeous array of colors, Veiled Collection’s apparel is (in my humble opinion) nothing short of runway-worthy. Their products are all consciously created, but they’re currently aiming to up their transparency so we know more about their entire production process.
Artizara
Another believer in Fair Trade, Artizara takes its inspiration from the rich cultural diversity of the Muslim world and caters its clothing to men, women, and children. A pretty unique feature of the brand is that it also has its own streetwear category, plus jewelry.
Haute Hijab
If you’re familiar with only a handful of hijab companies, this is bound to be one of them. Haute Hijab is quite honestly killing the hijab game with their stylish and massive selection of scarves. The company vows by ethical manufacturing practices and pays their workers fair wages. They also have a long history of creating their scarves by repurposing fabric in gorgeously unique ways, keeping their overall production process exceptionally eco-friendly.
This fashion brand was created by none other than Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad. If you’re comfortable with pieces that are a smidge more on the pricey end (but still jaw-droppingly gorgeous), Louella might just become your go-to. All of their items are ethically manufactured by women in the United States.
Written by Yusra Khan, an ALMAZ favorite writer and blog ghostwriter.
