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London-based designer Sarah Elenany says Muslim women can be both conservative and fashionable

As France decides to ban the burkha and hijab, Sarah Elenany, a 25-year-old London-based designer inspired by Islamic art and culture, tells us how Muslim women can be conservative and fashionable at the same time.

How did Islam come to inspire you? I’m inspired by the things that make me happy. I can only be creative when I’m in a happy state of mind. Islam makes me happy, as well as cartoons, canaries and seeing other people’s great works as well—all of these things inspire me.

Is covering one’s head fundamental to followers of Islam? I believe covering your head is fundamental to Islam’s followers. I wear a hijab. I did have a dilemma over wearing it, as I knew it would be significantly harder to get a job if I did.

How do you reconcile the absence of hijab and kaftans in your clothes with Islamic inspiration? I have had a couple of comments from Muslim men saying the clothes aren’t modest enough, which I think is a bit strange, but I think different ethnic cultures of different ages will have varying outlooks and definitions of what Islamic dress should be. I didn’t want to alienate anyone, which is why I pictured the clothes on a model without a hijab.

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Shubhangi Swarup