Mumbai: Shops, tailors see hijab demand spike

Amid the hijab row, hijab and burqa shop owners in Mumbai and Malegaon have witnessed a steady rise in demand for the garment by young Muslim girls and their parents. Abdul Wahid, a third-generation owner of the New Sabah burqa shop in Malegaon's Anjuman Chowk, said, "The recent events, in which the identity of those wearing hijab is being questioned, have led young women to defend the practice even more staunchly." Malegaon recently observed ‘Hijab Day', where over 30,000 women had assembled at Kallu Stadium, to show their solidarity for the headscarf.

Annual Day celebration at an English medium school in Malegaon. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

"Since the day (February 11) of the protest, the women are even more excited to defend their cultural and religious beliefs, one way is by sporting the hijab. Sales of burqa and hijab have gone up since the protest day. We have seen more women placing orders at our shop. Some women get it stitched (as per measurements), while few women purchase readymade. A rise in demand is being felt, especially in Malegaon, where even the ‘purdah' is of great significance," said Wahid.

‘People are culturally aware'

Safa Shaikh, a wholesaler, manufacturer and owner of Arabic Abaya shop (for hijabs and burqas) in Sankli Street, Byculla said "Girls from standard 8 onwards like to wear it, keeping in mind the safety and comfort it brings. These girls come by themselves, to look at designs or enquire about our products. This proves that they are willingly keen on maintaining this tradition. We have witnessed an exponential demand for headscarves in recent times. People are culturally aware and conscious. I benefit because sales for burqa and other garments (veil, hijab) are surging. Earlier hijab was worn only by women of a particular age group, but now many young women opt to wear it. School and college going girls too prefer it because it makes a religious statement. They have an urge to follow the Islamic ritual of covering themselves, they are not forced."

Sales of burqa and hijab have witnessed a surge since the protest day in Malegaon on February 11. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

‘Never forced my daughters'

Wahid's mother, Yasmeen Shafiq Ali said, "I have three daughters but I never had to force them to wear a hijab. As they grew up watching other women in the house and those wearing a hijab, purdah and burqa outside, they organically adopted it" "Also, seeing the customers come to buy at our shop, my children knew that it is a part of their religious identity and a ritual. Girls as young as 10 or even lesser ask their parents to buy hijabs for them. The protest has made many more Muslims aware of the importance of headscarves. The business also saw a surge because the young girls who did not have it earlier, now want the hijab," she said.

30,000
No. of women who assembled at Kallu Stadium, Malegaon, to show their solidarity for the headscarf on February 11