This Muslim Woman Is Redefining Hijabi Fashion In Japan With Her Gorgeous Instagram Photos
āI want to show that Muslim fashion is something that goes beyond the boundaries of religion and that anyone can empathize with and enjoy it.ā
ByĀ Saori IbukiĀ andĀ Kassy Cho
Although her Indonesian Muslim parents never pressured her to wear a hijab, Rahmalia Aufa Yazid always figured that she would eventually end up wearing one.
Born and raised in Tokyo, she initially didnāt feel that strongly about Islam, so she had followed her parentsā lead when it came to the religion.
When she finally decided to put on a hijab at age 18, it felt impersonal to her, and Yazid struggled with dressing in it.
Although her Indonesian Muslim parents never pressured her to wear a hijab, Rahmalia Aufa Yazid always figured that she would eventually end up wearing one.
Born and raised in Tokyo, she initially didnāt feel that strongly about Islam, so she had followed her parentsā lead when it came to the religion.
When she finally decided to put on a hijab at age 18, it felt impersonal to her, and Yazid struggled with dressing in it.
āI felt that the hijab was a religious item of clothing, so I was choosing my clothes to match,ā the 24-year-old freelance creator, who posts under herĀ Instagram handle @aufatokyo, told BuzzFeed News.
As a result, she found herself missing out on popular Japanese fashion trends and feeling out of place in school, where she was the only hijabi student in her major.
āNot only did I stand out as someone with foreign heritage, my daily outfits now consisted of my motherās old hijab and outfits that were totally different from designs and colors that were popular in Japan at the time,ā she said.
āAlthough it was my choice to wear the hijab, I would be lying if I said I didnāt feel as though the hijab was, instead, wearing me,ā she said.
All that changed when she encountered the work of Hana Tajima, a mixed-race British and Japanese designer who converted to Islam in her teens.
It was only after she saw TajimaāsĀ Uniqlo modest wear collectionĀ that Yazid realized modest fashion didnāt have to feel out of place in the streets of Tokyo.
āHer fashion didnāt feel like it was trying to be particularly gorgeous, vivid, or even traditional,ā Yazid said.
āThat was the moment the hijab changed from an impersonal, religious item of clothing to something that was true to my life,ā she added.
Yazid now combines Muslim and Japanese fashions in the city of Tokyo, sharing her self-portraits onĀ her InstagramĀ to her 14,000 followers.
She calls Tokyo a ācold and restless city,ā where people dress in neutral colors of black, white, beige, and khaki and where bright colors and striking patterns are rare.
She styles her hijab the way that Japanese people style their hair ā to match their outfit and mood for the day.
Just as Japanese people vary their hairstyles, from straight to bobbed, wavy to short haircuts, Yazid uses different colors, materials, and wrapping methods to switch up her look.
For example, the hijab can be wrapped asymmetrically to create an effect thatās similar to that of bangs being swept to one side, she said.
āI also add accessories to create a more lively look,ā she said. āI like hats, so I often wear a beret over the hijab.ā
For Yazid, Islamās restrictions against women showing skin is the part she enjoys most about fashion.
Because hijabi fashion doesnāt allow women to show off their neck, legs, or figures, itās a lot more difficult to come up with an outfit that still achieves an overall balance, she said.
āBut for me, thatās part of the fun,ā she said. āItās like solving a puzzle.ā
Her work has led to an increased sense of her pride in her Muslim faith in a country where Muslims are a small minority, she said.
Yazid said she wants to use her work to show people that they can wear a hijab, live a normal life, and not look out of place in the city.
Since then, she said sheās received many comments from people who said theyāre inspired by her work.
Some of them have begun wearing hijabs, while others have told her they want to learn more about Islam.
āHijabi fashion ā Muslim fashion ā transcends the boundaries of religion and can be a source of enjoyment for anyone,ā she said. āItās something that all women who want to look beautiful with can empathize with and enjoy.ā
She added, āI want to use what I do to improve peopleās understanding of Muslims, change biased views about the religion, and help people realize the value of living in a diverse society.ā
āI want to show myself, a Muslim, living strong and beautiful, through my art,ā she said.
