Modanisa Istanbul Modest Fashion Week officially opened its doors on Saturday, 20 April, to showcase an array of home-grown and international talent. Ten shows took place on the first day, held in the heart of the city.
Turkey’s Refka kicked off proceedings with an ultra-feminine Ramadan collection. Scalloped sleeves, sequined separates in silver and black, light layering with belted coats, and tone-on-tone prints are the mainstay of the label’s latest look.
Next on the runway was Halima Aden’s early-awaited fashion debut of ready-to-go turbans and shawls. The supermodel has teamed up with the world’s leading modest fashion e-tailer Modanisa for her first foray into design, opting for warm colours in a trans-seasonal collection of headwear that veers from the demure to the audacious.
There was a standing ovation for the ‘First Lady of Modest Fashion’ Rabia Z. After an absence of seven years from the runway on parenting duties, the Afghan-Emirati designer made a powerful statement with this exclusive capsule collection that takes every-day basics like the t-shirt dress and applied razor sharp, couture-style cuts. Her models also turned activist, carrying placards bearing messages like “Green Vibes Only”, “Ethical Is the New Normal”, and “Our World Needs Love”.
London-based Sherpa sees this season’s jewels as large precious stones in coral, turquoise, purple and red tones. The standout piece in their exclusive show is a necklace of flat, turquoise stone quarts with gold edges. Modern yet discreetly traditional, the takeaway is a fearless penchant for layering jewels.
Eleven labels from around the world showcased on Sunday, 21 April, with collections by Dian Pelangi, Saiqu Majeed, Till We Cover, and Muni Muni among the day’s highlights.
With a hint of urban cool, Dian Pelangi’s latest utilitarian-style collection is inspired by social media influencers. Typography, boldly displayed on hijabs, represents the look and feel of a trending hashtag, hardware is visible, yet subtle and fabric strips dangle playfully. The dark palette of black, kaki and browns make the collection universally flattering. The standout piece drew audible gasps from the audience: a fitted jacket with daringly long sleeves that brush the floor.
Event sponsor and leading modest fashion e-tailer Modanisa supported the presence of Till We Cover at IMFW. The emerging British label has carved out a name for casually cool clothes with elegant simplicity. Its designer Ruby Aslam places a strong emphasis on comfort without compromising style to demonstrate the true versatility of modest attire. Her latest collection sits on the pale end of the spectrum with key pieces standing out in vibrant orange, butter and mint tones. Other notable items include puffer jackets, which slot well into this season’s ’80s trend.
Taking place over three days, IMFW featured shows from 21 labels, pop-up booths and talk shows. The event was supported by UPS, MAC Cosmetics, and Hair by Mehmet Tatli, and media partners HalalFocus.com and Modest Russia.
