Finding faith in fashion

Freshman Karimah Aziz has so many hijabs, she can't even count how many she and her family own.\n"I have three younger sisters, so whenever I go home there are hijabs on the floor, on the bed, in bags, all wrinkled," she said.\nAfter the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, the decision whether to wear hijabs, traditional scarves many women wear that cover their heads and shoulders, has become a delicate choice for Muslim women.\nToday, more than five years later, Aziz and some other women at IU insist the attacks have not affected their choice to wear the garment.\nAziz said the hijab shows modesty and confidence in being Muslim, but wearing one also brings on a new set of problems. Aziz and junior Myeda Hussain both expressed feelings of pressure to present themselves as good people when wearing it.\n"I want (non-Muslim) people to know that I'm just like them. I'm not a terrorist," Hussain said. \nLast fall, Hussain decided to start wearing the hijab, the first woman in her family to do so. \nFor Hussain and others, wearing the hijab in general and on college campuses in particular has become more political after Sept. 11, said Heather Akou, an IU assistant professor of apparel merchandising and design. Akou researches Islamic dress and its cultural implications.\n"Women now have to put more thought into wearing the hijab," she said. \nFreshman Farzana Bade, a Muslim, said she chooses not to wear the hijab. But she said her decision is not motivated by any unfavorable reactions she might receive by wearing it. \n"Any reaction (I've gotten) after Sept. 11 has been positive," Bade said.\nShe recalled an instance in a Chinese restaurant where a woman smiled warmly at her and told her she accepted Bade's religious background. Bade said she chose not to wear a hijab because she wants to be absolutely sure of her decision before she commits to it.\nWearing a hijab, she said, is a big step to make.\n"Once you start (wearing a hijab), you don't stop -- but you never know what you're going to get into at college," she said.\nAziz said she knows many Muslim women on campus who don't wear hijabs. \n"Some are scared; they want to fit in," she said. "Wearing a scarf, you're automatically labeled and don't blend in as well."\nPart of her reservations about wearing a hijab stem from the reactions she could get from non-Muslims, she said. But, she added, there are still other ways many label a person as Muslim. \n"People can tell by the color of your skin that you might be Muslim," Aziz said. "Not wearing a hijab isn't entirely about not wanting to be labeled."\nWhile her parents encourage her to wear the hijab, Bade said they don't want to force her into social situations at college where she would be uncomfortable. \n"I have a lot of respect for girls who wear the hijab," she said. "It's a huge step in showing your faith."\nWhile the hijab can be worn fashionably, Akou said wearing it can have many meanings. The garment, which comes in various shapes and patterns, can be worn differently to fit regional customs.\n"Some women wear the hijab as a political statement, showing their religious identity," Akou said. "Other women don't care what others think and aren't wishing to attract attention; the choice for them is more of a personal one."\nAkou said that like many religious texts that set forth guidelines for daily life, the Quran says women should cover themselves. She added that many who wear the hijab do so to convey a sense of modesty. This, Akou said, is the main reason she wears the hijab. \n"(The hijab) is a sign of modesty," she said. "These days, women are showing more and more skin."\nFor Hussain, it is important to be seen as a Muslim. Aziz has a similar view, saying the hijab demonstrates to others that she has confidence in showing she is Muslim.\nMany women wear the hijab, Hussain said, because it is a constant reminder of their faith. \n"I feel that it makes me a better Muslim," she said.