A cut above the rest

What do you look for when you choose a garment, the quality of fabric, the cut of the design or the attention to detail? I know that for me all three are equally important. The year 2010 has seen a rise in fashion conscious women, especially Muslim women. Muslim fashion has soared through the roof over the last 2 years. There has been an increased number of designers who have brought their ideas and designs to life and have this has subsequently made women more conscious of the clothing they wear and the kind of designs they choose.

Aab is one of these companies. Since it emerged in 2007, it has taken the Muslim fashion world by storm. Aab’s ethos is to create designs for the modern woman, to balance comfort and modesty with designs which ooze elegance. Aab produces a variety of designs from Abaya’s to scarves and has recently launched a range of Accessories such as corsages and bags.

Before I conducted my review, I spoke to a small focus group of women some of who had bought from Aab and some whom had not. The common perception of the women previously never purchased Aab’s Abaya’s was that they were at the high end of their budget and were a bit pricey. The women who had purchased from Aab agreed however, they felt that it was money well spent. They discussed how the quality of fabric and the flow of the designs were appealing selling points, which made them re-purchase items. This was something that intrigued me as I realised that attention to detail, stitching and the cut of fabric were important points that consumers were becoming more focused on when choosing their clothing, a major change from the last few years.

I have reviewed two of Aabs best selling Abaya’s and was very keen on understanding what made their products so different from others. I also wore hijab’s from Aabs new range to complement the outfits.

Oolong Abaya teamed with Aab’s ‘Liquorice Allsort’s’ Scarf

The Oolong Abaya is Aab’s bestseller. Since it was introduced, it has sold worldwide and is seen as the companies’ signature black Abaya. The detail on the garment is very attentive. It has a very gentle flow to it and falls on the body when worn without hugging the figure. There is a satin sash across the chest and some satin work on the arms. The designers have really thought about the finer detail when creating this garment as there are two small buttons on the end of each arm to create ease for the wearing when making wudu or preparing for prayer. The arms are a snug fit, which gives it a dress like feeling. It is a must have piece for work or as dress up Abaya as it can easily be teamed up with either a blazer or a pair of heels and some statement jewellery.

The scarf is probably one of my favourite that I have come across so far. It is made from material and has a soft and drapey feel to it. Again, the detail in the scarf is what has impressed me so much. The ‘Liquorice Allsorts’ scarf is double layered but because it is a thin material, it gives a soft feel to the head when worn and drapes very easily. It is a very good size and the design of the colors is very retro and eye-catching

Crochet Ice Abaya teamed with Aab’s ‘Paisley Sparkle’ Scarf

The Crochet Ice can only be described as luxury and elegance personified! It is most probably one of the most elegant Abaya’s I have seen in a long time. When I received the garment it instantly reminded me of the ‘Ice Queen’ from Narnia with its soft flowey design which has a trail to it and the beautiful flower detail on the top which gives it a very feminine touch. This Abaya I teamed up with another of Aabs double-layered scarves.

Again, the ‘Paisley Sparkle’ scarf is soft in texture and drapes easily allowing plenty of coverage and fold for the wearer to adjust to their liking. I would even consider this a very suitable garment for a civil marriage that can be dressed up with a bouquet of flowers and some sparkly accessories. Equally, it is a definite contender to wear as a wedding guest or for a special occasion. I have teamed it with a bag from Monsoon and some contrasting jewellery from Accessorize to compliment the blue and purple tones of the scarf.

I was able to understand why so many of Aabs customers have stayed so loyal to the brand; the designs are of a very high calibre and take the beauty of modesty and femininity as their mantra when designing garments. Although I do not wear Jilbab save for a few occasions I would most definitely consider some of their designs due to their versatility and elegance.

All hijab’s and clothing reviewed has been styled courtesy of Hijablicious

GIVEAWAY

Hijablicious has teamed up with the Aab team for a fantastic giveaway! Please complete the following for your chance on getting your hands on one of Aab’s signature ‘Oolong’ Abaya’s worth £84.99:

If you could design a Jilbab for Aab what would make it stand out from other Abaya’s?

Closing date is the 15^th March and all entries to be sent to samia@hijablicious.com

(Please note the opinions and thoughts expressed are my own)

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Below is an exerpt of Hijablicious's review in the Muslim Weekly

Author- Samia Khan (All rights reserved -Subject to copyright ©)