IFDC introduces Islamic fashion program to global fashion design schools

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service - if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read the FAQ at http://ift.tt/jcXqJW.

Tuesday 01 Dec 2015 - 13:44 Makkah mean time-19-2-1437 Photo from IFDC’s Facebook page. Kuala Lumpur, (IINA) - The Islamic Fashion and Design Council (IFDC) is working now with fashion design schools worldwide to introduce a program on modest fashion for the Muslim fashion industry, Philippine Canadian Inquirer news reported. The IFDC is one of the world’s leading modest fashion and design councils. Founder and Chairwoman of IFDC Alia Khan said the council wants to educate international designers on modest fashion guidelines, which is receiving more attention, not only from Muslims, but also from those aspiring to dress up within modest perimeters. She said, "Today’s fashion encompassing Muslims does not only mean wearing the Abaya, the robe-like dress worn by Middle-eastern women, but also other options such as the maxi dress, loose trousers, kaftans and high-waist skirts. “There is a huge demand in the industry from women who want to dress modestly, while following the latest trends, and Muslims aspiring to obey conservative Islamic principles. This is what we are here for,” she added. According to Alia, the IFDC has launched iFash at Esmod Dubai for students there to learn about the challenges, intricacies and delights of Islamic clothing. “The three-month course is the first Islamic fashion design program and we hope to produce students to develop traditional Middle Eastern clothing,” she said. Esmod is the United Arab Emirates branch of the French fashion school. She said the council is now in talks with other schools on introducing a similar program. It was reported that the Muslim consumer expenditure in the clothing/fashion sector will increase to US$ 322 billion by 2018 from an estimated US$ 224 billion in 2012. The IFDC was established last year in New York and currently operates in Italy, South Africa, France, and Dubai. SM/IINA