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Muslim women has carried the legacy of signature black veils, the traditional dress to cover oneself from head to toe, for ages. However, the fashion industry has modified this traditional outfit into modern attire. Brands like DKNY, H&M, Uniqlo, D&G, Oscar de la Renta, Tommy Hilfiger, Mango, Monique Lhuillier, and Nike have taken the bandwagon forward to cater the Muslim market.
As per the Global Islamic Economy Report, Muslim consumers spend an estimated $230bn on clothing, a figure that is expected to grow to $327bn by 2019 - larger than the current combined clothing markets of the UK ($107bn), Germany ($99bn) and India ($96bn).
The Founder and CEO of IslamicShop.in, one-stop shop for Muslims, Mohamed Maaz gave a clear perspective about the Abaya industry.
What inspired you to start your own line of Abayas?
Well, the trend is showing upward growth in the Muslim world. Moreover, 29% of the world population is projected to be Muslim by 2030. The idea behind setting up an online Abaya retail store is to make shopping easier for Muslim women under the Islamic realm.
Where do you see Abaya fashion industry in the next five years?
The demand for modest clothing is rising. More and more Muslim women are inclining towards modest apparels so much so that the influential names in the fashion industry are participating in the business. Definitely, the abaya and hijab industry is going to flourish strength to strength.
How will designer Islamic clothing raise the fashion quotient?
From Dalia Mogahed, the first Muslim woman who entered in the white house as an advisor to the President, to Malala Yousafzai, hijab has become an important piece of clothing for every other Muslim women in day-to-day life. While walking with the world, they prefer keeping their look professional in workplaces and educational institutes, for which they look for subtle colors and designs. So, we have an abaya for every occasion.
How is it helping the franchise industry to grow?
It is essential to franchise which helps in building relationship across the globe. Franchises cater to specific demographics based on location or needs. Moreover, one can start business with minimal investment as per the capacity for both online and offline sales and tie-up with quick franchisees across the globe.
What kind of franchising partner are you looking for?
Our customers, both retail and wholesale, are spread across the globe. As we are extremely customer-centric, we take special care to deliver the product on time and give quality experience to our customers. So, we would want somebody who can give the same value to the brand.
Also, we expect our partners to be digitally equipped with all technical support for in-house communication as well as to the consumers.
What kind of support and training will you offer them?
We give intensive training to our franchisees from photoshoots to delivery of the products. Apart from that, we provide them with the guidelines, which elaborate about the strategy and process of the company. We train them in a way that they are capable of handling any situation independently though we are always present to guide them.
