Madi Thoele, 4th Period (1st Post of 2nd Six Weeks): Hijab-Wearing H&M Model

Summary: It's the first time H&M, the world's second largest retailer, has featured a Muslim model wearing a hijab in anything ever. The video, titled "Close the Loop", encourages viewers to recycle unwanted clothes. Models of various nationalities, sizes, and genders are featured. It was the Muslim woman's modeling debut, too. Raised in London, Mariah Idrissi, 23 did not plan on hitting big this fast. Idrissi says H&M knew how she wanted to be dressed, according to her religion. They knew it had to be loose-fitting and not revealing. They gave her a range of different outfits to choose from and they were all up to her standards. Some say modeling conflicts with traditional Islamic beliefs, but Idrissi disagrees. She has heard comments from other Islamic people who are against it, but nothing from Islam itself is against modeling, so she doesn't have a problem with it. "As long as I'm dressed correctly, according to Islam, then there's no problem... It's just promoting the hijab, in a way. If anything, it's good." H&M didn't want to comment, but said to CNN: "We don't convey any specific ideal or encourage a choice of lifestyle which is what the "Close the Loop" film shows; there are no rules in fashion but one." Mariam Veiszadeh, a Muslim lawyer and writer, says more work needs to be done for the representation of Muslim women, and colored women in general. Making Muslim women feel represented in the fashion society will be a smart business decision to attract a larger amount of costumers. Hopefully, other brands will soon follow when they see a retailer as big as H&M support modeling diversity. Idrissi says to other Muslim women that modeling is fine, as long as one remembers what the hijab means. A hijab is not a fashion statement, but it's okay to keep up with fashion.

Analysis: I watched "Close the Loop" and it made me smile because it represents so many different cultures, shapes, and nationalities, and also broke gender roles (Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4xnyr2mCuI). This is a huge step towards diversity in the fashion industry because H&M is a gigantic and influential retailer. The author of this article, Monica Sarkar, doesn't seem biased because wrote thoroughly and drew from multiple sources. This event reminds me of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech because it was iconic, extremely influential, and one of the first steps to break the norms of society and begin to undo racial discrimination. I hope the fashion industry begins to change, so that it appeals to a larger audience and more cultures feel represented.

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/29/europe/hm-hijab-model/?iid=ob_article_footer_expansion&iref=obnetwork