Paris has hosted its first-ever Modest Fashion Week, showcasing collections from nearly 30 designers featuring loose, long-cut garments and headscarves—clothing many Muslim women choose to wear for religious reasons.
The event held special significance in France, where hijabs and other religious attire have often sparked debate and are restricted in some settings. Rukaiya Kamba, creative director of Nigerian brand Flaunt Archive, said presenting her collection in Paris was a deliberate choice.
Young attendees told the BBC the event signaled a more inclusive French culture taking shape. France is home to an estimated 5-7.5 million Muslims, and Özlem Şahin, head of the organizing body, called Paris "one of the leading modest fashion capitals in Europe."
At Hôtel Le Marois, near the Champs-Élysées, the runway featured floral and nature-inspired hues. Hicran Önal, founder of Turkey-based Miha, wore a floral tulle dress and described romance as key to her collection, blending teal and blue with floral pinks. Indonesian designer Nada Puspita offered cleaner lines, while Australian brand Asiyam's Aisa Hassan used deeper greens and autumnal reds, with a bucket hat nodding to her heritage.
French brands Soutoura and Nour Turbans presented nylon, black, jewel-toned, and boxy garments influenced by Gen Z streetwear. Nour Turbans styled a model with a beret over a headscarf—a quintessentially Parisian yet modest look.
The modest fashion market has grown rapidly, with global consumer spending expected to exceed $400 billion by next year, according to DinarStandard. While initially catering to Muslim women, it increasingly appeals to other religious communities and secular shoppers.
Soutoura's founder Fatou Doucouré said exhibiting in Paris filled her with pride. Having struggled with her hijab in France, she now feels Muslim women who cover their hair or dress modestly can "take on any role in any society."
The event also featured burkinis from Turkish brand Mayovera, banned in most public pools but allowed on beaches. One young French attendee of Malian heritage said the event brought her joy after facing discrimination for wearing a headscarf, adding that she now feels people are seeing beyond it.