PODCAST EPISODES

Cries for equal treatment and representation billow across all fields, including the fashion industry, and especially in the booming modest fashion industry. Yet, although Black women have made significant contributions (in fact, some may argue that they are the backbone of modest fashion), many go unrecognized and unseen. In today’s episode, sisters Rayya and Sumayah Ansari, join to discuss how they created spaces for themselves and other Black Muslim women in fashion. Rayya is a popular modest Muslim fashion blogger and influencer who speaks about current events and style. Sumayah is the owner of A.SumayahShop, which offers “modest chic” clothing for the contemporary woman. 

Topics Covered: 

• Defining modest fashion and misconceptions and myths about modest fashion
• The intersection of fashion and religion
• How Rayya and Sumayah became fashion influencers and find inspiration
• How Rayya created her own space in fashion
• Why Sumayah opened A.Sumayah shop and how her fashion stands out in the market of modest fashion 
• Spotlighting Blackness in the modest fashion industry
• The (in)visibility of Black Muslims
• What the hijab represents 
• How modest fashion became a multi-billion dollar industry and the increased visibility of Muslims in fashion 
• The push for diversity and inclusion in the fashion industry 
• Contributions of Black Muslim women on trends in modest fashion
• How Black women have been excluded in the modest fashion industry
• How Rayya and Sumayah #breakconcrete
• The pay gap between Black and white influencers

Highlights:

• “We are the trendsetters.”
• “We carry it, but people don’t want to see our faces doing it.”
• “Hijab is a journey.”

Connect with Rayya: 

On YouTube: Rayya Ansari

On Instagram: @_rayyaansari 

Connect with Sumayah: 

For modest chic style for the contemporary woman, visit A.Sumayah shop at https://a-sumayahshop.com/

On Instagram: @a.sumayahshop

Via E-mail: a.sumayahshop@gmail.com

Other References: 

• Louisa Loveluck, The big business of modest fashion, The Washington Post, Oct. 4, 2018
• Vanessa Taylor, Worth of the Cool: The Cachet and Co-optation of Black Muslim Style, Bitch Media, May 20, 2020
• Hafsa Lodi, Black Women are the Backbone of Modest Fashion, Restless Network, Restless Network, June 7, 2020.
• Break Concrete, Episode 39, The (In)visibility of Black Muslim Womanhood with Vanessa Taylor

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it! Leave a review and rating on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon Music, or Audible. Reviews and ratings are really important to the ranking of the show. And feel free to send feedback and questions to breakconcrete@gmail.com.