For the first time in Amsterdam, the Netherlands capital will host a modest fashion week on December 14 to celebrate its diversity, Salam Gateway reported.

“[Amsterdam] is a diverse, multicultural, and tolerant place,” Think Fashion co-founder Franka Soeria said in a statement on Thursday, December 5.

“We’ve chosen Amsterdam with a reason; to us, this city represents new cool and new hope,” said Franka, adding that the city also has a big customer base for modest fashion.

The organizer, Think Fashion, will open the three-day Amsterdam Modest Fashion Week December 14 at the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam.

Kicking off the sixth event, the foundation’s first modest fashion week was held in Istanbul in May 2016. Other events in London, Dubai, and Jakarta took place later.

Thirty designers will participate in seven shows in the event.

“We have good buyers registered to come to the event and to add up we have also been contacting so many buyers, from boutique retailers, department stores to e-commerce. Hopefully, the result is good,” said Franka.

Modest Fashion

According to Islamic Fashion Design Council (IFDC), Muslims spent about $322 billion on fashion in 2018. The hijab fashion industry is set to reach $488 billion this year, WHYY reported.

Non-Muslim international fashion lines and retailers have been trying to tap into the niche market for modest clothing.

For example, high-end label Dolce & Gabbana has lately released a collection of headscarves and coordinated abayas, the loose robes worn by some Muslim women.

Islam emphasizes the concept of decency and modesty. Many authentic Prophetic hadiths quote that “modesty is part of faith”.

And the Islamic dress code is part of that overall teaching. The majority of Islamic scholars agree that modesty is mandatory for both Muslim men and women.