If you are in London and are interested in modest fashion, there will be a panel discussion at the University of the Arts London entitled, Modest Fashion: Faith-based Fashion and Internet Retail on Tuesday 25th May 2010 from 5:30 to 8: 45. Here is a description of the event:

To what extent has internet shopping become an important tool for those who want to combine fashion with faith? How is modesty defined in different faith communities? And how far are religious identities and appearances being re-shaped through the market?

These are just some of the questions that are arising in relation to increased participation in modest fashion. LCF Professor of Cultural Studies Reina Lewis and Dr Emma Tarlo, Reader in Anthropology at Goldsmiths, University of London, invite you to a special event to mark the launch of a new AHRC/ESRC- funded research project on modest fashion. With increasing numbers of women choosing to dress modestly due to their religious beliefs, a distinguished panel will discuss whether a new market is emerging for consumers from different faith groups. In addition, they will explore the potential impact for inter-faith dialogue of these shared dress practices among Muslim, Jewish, and Christian women.

Joining Reina and Emma in the consideration of these important questions will be LCF Visiting Professor Annelies Moors, Professor of contemporary Muslim societies at the department of anthropology and sociology, University of Amsterdam, and principal investigator of an international NORFACE research programme on ‘The emergence of Islamic fashion in Europe’, and Professor Niloofar Haeri, Professor of Anthropology at Johns Hopkins University, and author of Sacred Language, Ordinary People: Dilemmas of Culture and Politics, currently studying comparative concepts of modesty in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Following the discussion, there will be a reception to celebrate the release of Emma Tarlo’s book, Visibly Muslim: Fashion, Politics, Faith (Berg, 2010). We at SHUKR were honored to be mentioned in her book as part of her investigation of how fashion and faith interact for British Muslims. This exciting new book has already been given some excellent reviews (see below) and we highly recommend it.

“Beautifully written and compelling, Emma Tarlo’s new book finds a way to be fair-minded in the political minefield that surrounds the dress of visibly Muslim women in the UK. Animated by the nuanced detail of sartorial biographies and documenting changes in hijab fashion, Visibly Muslim provides a sophisticated examination of the dramatic increase in covered dressing and the reasons why it continues to matter so much to its practitioners and observers. This makes an essential read.”

–Reina Lewis, Professor of Cultural Studies, London College of Fashion. Author of Rethinking Orientalism: Women, Travel and the Ottoman Harem.

“Tarlo’s finely written analysis of Muslim women’s dress choices in Britain is sensitive, thoughtful and measured– a refreshing counterpoint to the two dimensional media coverage of the subject. She examines such choices from multiple angles: personal, aesthetic, social, religious and political, while making sure that we understand the dynamism inherent in decisions about dress.”

–Niloofar Haeri, Professor of Anthropology, John Hopkins University. Author of Sacred Language: Ordinary People, Dilemmas of Culture and Politics in Egypt

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 12th, 2010 at 4:29 am and is filed under Bits & Pieces, Events, Inspiration.