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2016/17

FARDOUSA MOHAMED OSMAN

CONTENTS

MAYSEMODE COLLECTION

01/17

CULTURE

19/35

MODESTY

37/49

M AY S M O D E C O L L E C T I O N

Haifa Shamsan, is an aspiring fashion designer from Wales, UK who inspires Muslim women through her clothing line- Maysmode. The brand blends traditional Arab style with a Western outlook. Shamsan, originally from Yemen, plans to take her line to an international level and break the stereotype associated with Muslim women. Everyone has a sense of originality in her designs and that is the beauty of it. Shamsan states each creative designer will bring something different. To me, it is not about designing a dress or a maxi skirt or a sleeved blouse. There has to be something interesting about each piece. The whole point of designing is to create something that no one has ever seen before. Apart from the fact that I aim for my clothing to bring modesty, I sometimes love to bring in dome vintage styles and mix up a little culture to make things more interesting and revive some pieces. I sometimes love to incorporate traditional fabrics into my clothing to give it a special touch.

02 C U LT U R E

Kem Looking at something about a certain culture, it’s important to realise that doesn’t mean everyone from that particular background acts/ thinks/believes the same thing. Just as not everyone has identical beliefs; people who come from different cultural backgrounds aren’t all a certain way either. In this section I’m focusing on three different individual types of girls and there thoughts on modesty. komie Having grown up in the Indian culture, Modesty to me has been defined by women being treated as an Avatar of a Goddess. Modesty to me has therefore meant that I should be comfortable in the clothes I am in and most importantly body image should be respected. Where parts of the body like the cleavage should be covered in a way respectful when in front of others especially your elders. Additionally, parts of my body should be covered as if I do not respect body nobody else will. Having said this, I can still keep up with trends and dress up trendy in a conservative high fashion way to make myself noticeable and make a statement. You can still be a modest dresser and wear clothing items that can boost your self-esteem, self worth and confidence. Dressing modest gives me a positive energy boost. Ayan For me the key to truly understanding what modesty is, is to examine the attitudes and intents of the heart. In Islam we are taught that modesty is one of the principals of faith. It is freedom from vanity and showiness. It is decency and moderation in speech, manners, dress in total attitude and behaviour towards life itself. We as Muslims implement what we are taught in Islam so for me modesty isn’t just the way I dress but also my character and being humble. In a time where modesty isn’t the main topic I think the most important thing you can do is remain true to what you know because a new trend shouldn’t change your view on modesty as it’s more then just covering up. That being said, I believe that you should express yourself in a manner, which is fun and fabulous without having to feel judged. Because whenever I leave the house with outfits, which isn’t just modest but also makes me feel confident I know for a fact that nothing compares to that feeling.

There is no complete definition to my spirituality at this moment in time. It is something that is constantly evolving and expanding in conjunction to my own personal growth and acquisition of knowledge and understanding paired with experience. I would say that i am a person in touch with their spiritual side. By this i mean i believe in something much greater than myself, an eternal omnipotent and omnipresent force, or energy that forms part and parcel of all things. Energy is timeless, and as said by physicists cannot be created nor destroyed but it is transformed. My spiritual beliefs mean that i see all life to be interconnected, a part of something greater than the life we are accustomed to. A part of something greater resides within each and every live thing in this universe. This belief, encourages me to be aware of how i treat others and also myself. It makes me aware of how i present myself and what type of energy i am attracting towards me because of this. In regards to clothing, it makes me aware of how certain clothes can attract certain people, or even put me in a different frame of mind. Modesty to me - in regards to clothing - is about being aware of what i am attracting. I do not believe that i should have to hide my body, or cover myself immensely, but i do believe that certain apparel attracts a certain vibe. Being spiritual means being aware of the bigger picture, being aware that my energy and behaviour is a force that will attract reactions, and re clothing; being aware that i am more than my body. When i am feeling in alignment with my spiritual self the most, I either want to wear really flowing garments that make me feel free and liberated from being sexualised based on my body - or i feel the total opposite and revel in the greatness of naked human skin and the beauty of the human body in its pure, non sexualised form. Spirituality also teaches that the Ego can at times be negative. in its place it is a positive thing that we all need in a healthy balance. Great teachers of spirituality wear simple clothing, modest clothing. Clothing that does not boast of ones social or economical status. This in part is a way to reduce the Ego. Therefore, in regards to modesty in a spiritual setting, wearing simple clothing that does not attract attention and does not boost the Ego or grow vanity is a way of remaining balanced and rising above the illusion of the third dimensional and physical realms of the space we occupy. These bodies we live in are homes to a spirit, to a light being. The Ego can cause us to lose sight of this, and so being modest is a way to remind ones self of ones true self, the light being, the spiritual realm, and to not fall into the illusion. Modesty is a mind-set. It is an awareness of self and of ones desire to not attract attention to self as an individual but to be a part of something greater, something less worldly and less contained within the Ego, the desire to be part of a shared collective, just in the way that spirituality is.

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03 MODESTY

Modesty to me is much more than just what wears. It’s also about your manners, the way you carry yourself and the way you treat others. I think it’s the combination of shyness and humility and to be free from vanity and all that brings an individual that feeling of shame or embarrassment, that uneasy exposure feeling. I think modest fashion is just fashion that doesn’t follow the norm right now. Modest is not something that changes, with the seasons, or the current big thing in fashion. Modest is simply clothing, which is uncompromising. Which has styles, and cuts, and colours of all sort. Which anyone can wear, regardless of race, colour and gender. It’s simply a lifestyle. One where you do not feel the need to sell body. To make clothes show you off, show off the clothes.

FARDOUSA MOHAMED OSMAN