Entrepreneur Finds Success through the Hijab

Most of us would not likely use the words “hijab” and “high fashion” in the same sentence, but if Yasemin Kanar of Miami has her way, they could become synonymous.

Kanar, 23, has creatively melded her faith and love of fashion into a thriving web-based business that serves Muslim women who want to be beautiful and stylish.  Kanar launched yazthespaz.com, which sells fashionable hijabs, turtlenecks, and other accessories, in early 2012. Less than a year later, she has thousands of customers around the world, manages challenges keeping everything in stock, and travels the United States presenting fashion shows and promoting her fashion line.

Kanar’s business will have a growing market:  The Pew Research Center’s 2010 report on religion noted there are more than 1.6 billion Muslims in the world, and the 2010 U.S. Religion Census reported 2.6 million Muslims in the country, and the fastest growth rate among all religions.

In the West, some people believe Muslim women are forced to wear the hijab, a traditional scarf worn to cover the hair and neck. Wearing the scarf, however, is a choice for Muslim women.

“I was wearing the hijab in unusual ways and lots of women were asking me about how to do it,” says Kanar. She had so many requests that she decided to make a YouTube video for friends, which ended up going viral. Her viewers–ranging in age from 9 to over 60–asked for more.  At the same time, Muslim women were frustrated by the challenge of finding fashionable options, which spurred Kanar into business.

And it all started with a scrunchie. Considered an outdated 80’s accessory in American fashion, the volumizing scrunchie plays a silent but important role in hijab fashion: It is used to create volume at the back of the head under the scarf. From the very beginning, the hair accessory has been her best selling product. Her site also sells basic turtlenecks and bonnets, which are worn under the hijab to keep it from sliding.

“The products I would wear were what they were looking for,” says Kanar, who adds that she is sticking to items that are necessities for everyday wear. Yazthespaz is expanding slowly, however, adding optional fashion items like the ring accessories.

She is also growing her sales savvy by continuing her education in business. Although her undergraduate degree was in science, “I wasn’t passionate about biology,” Kanar says. Now, her dream is to have her own fashion line. She is well on her way, gaining experience promoting her products at fashion shows and events from Ohio and Georgia to Utah and California.

Kanar says her main aim is to help Muslim women feel beautiful, comfortable, and confident. “You don’t have to be ugly. You can be fashionable while being a Muslim. You can be proud.” She emphasizes that it is possible to adhere to Muslim standards of modesty while expressing personal style. Peruse the Yazthespaz Facebook page and you will see plenty of evidence of how modesty can be beautiful and modern.

Recent changes in Western fashion have also made it easier for Muslim women to be fashionable.  Kanar points to recent the trends of looser, flowing shirts with longer sleeves as well as longer skirts as being modest and beautiful, opening up more clothing options for women.

And if you think that the hijab might be bothersome or time consuming, Kanar has something to say about that: “When you live it, life is more fun with the scarf on… No bad hair days!”

 

Both images supplied by yazthespaz.com

About Vera L. Dordick

Vera L. Dordick is principal with Tangible Development LLC, public relations practitioner, and creative provocateur. At Tangible Development, Vera specializes in crisis management and public relations but has a particular interest in creativity training and helping companies foster more creative environments. She also blogs on the Albany Times Union website on marketing and creativity. Vera holds a BA in Journalism and Russian from Indiana University and an Associate degree in Culinary Arts from SCCC.

Comments

  1. lallalal says:

    thank you so much for this article, i’m a hijabi to and this is wonderful!! :D

  2. very nice article, it shows in a clear way that muslim woman are not forced to wear the hijab. It is their choice and their way to express themselves :)

  3. Lalith Ruwanpathirana says:

    aha nice post man i love this !!!!

    since i was a boy i love design

    u can get more design from Adsurf.net
    cheerrsss !!!!1

  4. He inhales deep and long through his nose, his nostrils flare.
    When bound together with plastic polymer resin by heat, pressure or in a vacuum a composite material is formed that is
    both strong and lightweight. Consider the pantene pro-v nature fusion brand,
    olive oil, and other products. Many are suffering from food addiction because of fad diets.
    When your hair dries, it will take the form of the rollers.

  5. Thanks for finally writing about >Entrepreneur Finds Success through the Hijab
    — Upmarket Magazine <Loved it!

  6. Sweet blog! I found it while browsing on Yahoo News.

    Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
    I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there!
    Thanks

  7. When some one searches for his vital thing, therefore he/she wants to be available that in detail, thus that
    thing is maintained over here.

  8. Nice respond in return of this question with firm arguments
    and explaining all on the topic of that.

  9. This site truly has all the information I needed concerning this subject and didn’t
    know who to ask.

  10. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on philips antenna hdtv indoor outdoor.

    Regards

  11. Great delivery. Solid arguments. Keep up the good effort.

  12. Gooɗ article! We will be linking to this particularly great post on our website.
    Keep up the great writing.

  13. I am regular visitor, how are you everybody? This article posted
    at this web page is truly nice.

  14. Hi friends, pleasant post and fastidious arguments commented
    at this place, I am truly enjoying by these.

  15. You ought to take part in a contest for one of the highest quality
    sites on the internet. I’m going to highly recommend
    this website!

  16. Very rapidly this site will be famous amid all blog people, due to
    it’s nice posts

  17. That is a really good tip particularly to those fresh to the blogosphere.
    Brief but very precise information… Thanks for sharing this one.

    A must read article!

  18. If you are going for best contents like I do, simply go to see this web page daily for the reason that it
    offers feature contents, thanks

  19. First off I want to say wonderfu blog! I had
    a quick question whicdh I’d like to ask if youu do not mind.
    I was curious to find out how you center yourself and clear your thoughts prior to writing.

    I’vehad trouble clearing my mind in getting my ideas out.
    I do take pleasure in writiong but it just seems like the first 10 tto
    15 minutes tend to be lost just trying to figure out how to begin. Any suggestions or hints?
    Thank you!

  20. My partner and I stumbled over here by a different website and thought I
    may as well check things out. I like what I see so now i am
    following you. Look forward to checking out your web page again.

Speak Your Mind

*