Nike will launch a “Pro Hijab” for female Muslim athletes early next year becoming the first big sports brand to ever do so. Offering a traditional Islamic head scarf desig
ned for competition, or active-wear
The sportswear giant has been working on the hijab design for more than a year, consulting several athletes during the creation process. One of them being Amna Al Haddad, a female weightlifter from the United Arab Emirates. She told Nike, traditional hijabs suffer from a lack of breath-ability and tend to shift as the athlete moves.
As a result, Nike created a product that is opaque, made of light and breathable material, as well as ensuring the fabric is snug. So the athletes could compete without discomfort or fear of the Hijab dislodging. The product also includes a Nike swoosh right above the ear.
Figure skater, Zahra Lari was one of the professional athletes who tested Nike’s hijab. In a statement to CNN Lari stated, “I was thrilled and a bit emotional to see Nike prototyping a hijab. I’ve tried so many different hijabs for performance, and … so few of them actually work for me. But once I put it on and took it for a spin on the ice, I was blown away by the fit and the light weight.”
The “Pro Hijab” will become available as early as Spring 2018, which will be in time for the next Summer Olympics based in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Is this take on the hijab honorable? Or is the swoosh on the hijab a little too much?
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