Hijab is hip in Jakarta

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Islam's All-Enveloping Hijab Is Hip in Indonesia

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Forget the stereotype image of Muslim women draped from head to toe in all-enveloping robes, or girls shrouded in modest white veils.

In Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, the Islamic Hijab is hip, particularly among the rich and upwardly mobile.

A walk through upscale shopping malls like Plaza Senayan in the capital Jakarta is a real eye-opener.

Women are covering up, but with a dazzling array of chic, colorful and often body-hugging Islamic clothes, often complemented by the latest accessories.

Many smart department stores have opened separate sections for Islamic clothes and stores offer an assortment of magazines and books dedicated to design and Islamic dress for the modern woman.

"Islamic dress has gone upper class," says fashion designer Mira Aviva Zaki on the sidelines of her show at Jakarta's Hilton Hotel.

Although most Indonesians have long opted for a relatively liberal interpretation of the Muslim dress code, the basic rule of covering the body from head to toe still applies.

I was in Malaysia a year ago. Here is a photo I took:

Comments

[caleb]

I'm leaving now, and when I come back I want the photo to be there. Seriously. Don't be editing on my time. I'm an important guy, and I have things to do. There are at least three more blogs I need to read tonight, for example,

[fashions]

that cool content