The Abaya is undergoing a fashion revolution. The way women are wearing it is changing. They are no longer covered from head to toe as it used to be 20 years ago. The Abaya itself is undergoing changes in design, colors and purposes.
In fact, there may come a time when the Abaya may even disappear Wearing the Abaya is a tradition rooted in the teachings of Islam and reflects the way parents raise their children. In their childhood, little girls imitate the way their mothers wear the Abaya that covers their whole body and the veil covers the head. In the traditional Saudi society,
Girls understand that the Hijab (covering the head and the body) is not only a tradition but also a religious obligation in keeping with Islam.
Yet in a post-9/11 world, the Abaya has suddenly come to the forefront as a symbol not only of Islam but the Middle East as well. And its image has taken a beating under relentless Western media scrutiny that sees the garment as an example of oppression. Never mind that few Saudi women view it as a denial of their human rights. "The only time I think of my Abaya is when some Westerner asks me about it," said one Saudi woman.
But whether Saudis are willing to admit it, encroaching Western culture has had an impact on a region lavished in newfound wealth brings many things once alien to Saudi Arabia right at home: new luxury automobiles, satellite
television, the latest New York and Paris fashions, American movies and even attitudes brought home from touring Saudis. In other words, a shrinking world has had considerable impact on the modern Saudi woman.
The same woman who wants an education, a career and independence. "You see, everything is changing," said Kholoud, a 20-year-old Saudi girl. "People are now living in skyscrapers that reach the clouds. Why shouldn't I change, too? The old Abaya is awkward, outdated and not very suitable for this society. Moreover, I am only 20 and too young to wear it in that old style. I want to wear a shiny and flashy Abaya so that everyone notices that (someone in it) is a modern girl."
She noted that if the Abaya remains as it is a traditional garment many girls and women will refuse to wear it. But now people from neighboring Gulf countries like to buy the decorated Abaya from the Kingdom because it is fashionable and, at the same time, achieves the purpose of covering the body. It is just like high heels and lipstick colors. Sixteen-year-old Said Sara is a traditional Saudi girl.
"I feel secure and safe when I walk fully covered in shopping centers," Sara said. " I'm really proud of it (Abaya). I don't mind what others may say about me or how I look. I want to obey Allah and that makes me
comfortable."
"Hijab is not merely a covering dress but, more importantly, it is behavior, manners, speech and appearance in public." Sara does not wear the traditional Abaya because her father forces her to do so. She took it upon herself to follow the teachings of Islam. For her, wearing Hijabs is obeying Allah even in a different cultural setting. For her, it takes courage, faith and true womanhood to stick to wearing the Abaya.
But many young women no longer follow this tradition. They are not enthusiastic to wear the veil any longer. They changed their black headscarf to caps, bandana or sometimes a colorful scarf thrown off the shoulders.
Others even unbutton their Abaya to show their clothes underneath. They tend to show more of their body than to cover it.
In the Kingdom, some people consider it taboo to open the subject of the changing role of the Abaya for discussion, but there have been differences in opinion on whether women are required to cover their head or not, depending
on the region where they live.
Residents of Abha or Qassim prefer wearing the old-style Abaya and veil. They criticize the modern styles of Abaya -- decorated and embroidered and the woman who like them as undermining Saudi culture and religious
teachings.
On the other hand, girls and women who are raised in a freer environment like to have more liberty on how they were the Abaya, especially the so-called French Abaya, which looks tidy, flashy and colorful.
Their liberal attitude toward the Abaya also reflects some social and political changes. Many women feel being discriminated against for not being allowed to vote in the municipal elections or work in fields traditional held by men.
Although majority of the men and women still believe in keeping the old tradition, there¹s a strong social undercurrent that suggest that the Abaya will change in the way the traditional dress looks, if not set aside.
Allowing one's neck, a bit of shoulder, an ankle or even a pair of blue jeans to peak from the folds of the Abaya is a form of not only expression, but also defiance and outright rebellion to many women. But it still comes down to individual choice. One American woman defended women who wear the Abaya in the traditional way.
"In the Western world, the Abaya has come to symbolize either forced silence or unconscionable extremism," she said," said Mrs. Mustafa, a 35-year-old American Muslim living in the Kingdom. "(Westerners) may think that it is against women's rights. It is neither. It is simply a woman's assertion and judgment."
Mustafa said she believes that women are not going to achieve equality by allowing them to bare their breasts in public, noting that true equality will only come when women do not need to display their body to get
Attention of others and be allowed to cover their body if they want to. She said those who fight for women's rights have no idea about that women's freedom is in their Hijab. "Wearing the Hijab has given me freedom from constant attention to myself, "she said. "Because my appearance is not subjected to public scrutiny,
My beauty, or perhaps lack of it, is not a subject to be discussed by others. Abaya gives me my freedom."
The oil boom that led to the modernization of Saudi society like the tall buildings that built in many cities and the way people think and behave. Women have adopted
Western way of living.
"Girls wear Abaya to attract (people's attention), " said
an Abaya designer in the Kingdom and Gulf countries.
He said some women suggest new models and they inspire him to make new designs for Abaya. "Most of the girls ask for the tidy Abaya, it is the fashion, " he said.
"They like glitter and glitz so we decorate the Abaya as they wish. "
In Jeddah, Abayas in different styles are displayed in big shops in commercial centers or in traditional shops like Bawadi or Balad. "We have all kinds of Abaya, the tidy, the colorful and the tradition alone," said a shopkeeper in Al-Bawadi Souq.
"It is the customers' choice to get any kind of Abaya they like, " he said. 'We never interfere. Some girls want the tidy and fashionable one, which hugs their body. We display all kinds. That's our job. But conservative women like to wear the one that doesn't show their body. "
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