The Ankara

Hello there! Today,I'll be writing about the African traditional wear which is known as Ankara. Ankara is the traditional and native wear of Africans. Although the fabric was not originally made in Africa nor was it for Africans,the manufacturers targeted Africa because of the tribal print nature of the fabric. Each tribe has its own way of wearing the Ankara. In some parts of Nigeria,the men tie the Ankara around their waist while the women sew blouses and wrappers with theirs. In Arewa(the north),Ankara is known as Atamfa and it is only worn by the women. A veil(mostly big) is draped over the ankara,so as to cover the body. The veil adds to the beauty of the outfit. Ankara comes in various prints and variety of colors. Unlike in the ancient times when Ankara used to be sewn in to a blouse and plain wrappers, it is now being sewn in to fashionable gowns,wrappers,skirts and tops. Ankara is now also being used to make shoes,bags,earrings,bracelets and other fashionable accessories. Photos Featuring: Rukkaya Saidu and Amina Haruna.

The Hijab.

iv> Hello! Its been a long time since my last post. I've been so distracted with school and life.
I'm sure most of you have heard of the 'Hijab'. Well since in shaa Allah I'll be blogging about modest fashion, I decided to first discuss the hijab.
   Hijab is an Arabic word meaning 'cover'. It is a veil worn by the muslim women which covers the head and the chest. It symbolizes modesty and morality. The hijab is worn by the muslim women when leaving the house or in the presence of men who are not their close relatives(Mahram). This category of close relatives include men who are not permitted to marry a woman. These include;Father,Brothers,Uncles,her son,stepson among others.
   However the hijab is more than just a piece of clothing. The hijab does not only mean to cover ones body. The quran tells both male and female to 'lower our gaze and protect our chastity.' It also refers to the modest way opposite sexes relate with one another. It involves the way we speak,our words and also the tone of our voice.
    Most people believe the native long flowing hijab is the only acceptable form of hijab. No matter how covered you are,if the native hijab is absent,they do not believe you're wearing a hijab. However this is wrong. The quran does not specify a particular fabric or piece of clothing as hijab,it just tells us to cover our body exposing only the hands and face.
  

On a different note,you might notice me repeat veils,bags or shoes in my photos,don't hold it against me,I'm just an average girl out to explore modest fashion!