I remember back when I was studying Anthro, I came across an article on food taboos. "Oh, those," I thought to myself, "Other, less rational people have those; I don't." So I'm gladly reading along, laughing quietly to myself about the silly taboos. Then I get to a picture of a table set for a Seder ... with a bottle of Coke . And there it was. A taboo I felt in the gut. And so totally meaningless. I'm not observant. I don't even believe, don't even know what it is I'm s'posed to believe in. But Coke at a seder, that just felt so wrong. All right, so maybe it's that I don't like coke in general, but I took it as a humbling experience: I too am a bearer of inexplicable, irrational taboos.

Jump forward a few decades to current debates in Europe as to whether the burka, the chador, maybe even hijab are women-oppressive garments, and to France deciding that girls will not be allowed to wear hijab in school. To even out the blow, and only after the blow was challenged, they also forbade religious jewelry of any kind (little cross on a chain, mogen david on a chain, etc.). It struck me right off that that was the wrong way to go about it. That just makes hijab even more of an identity item, an embattled one at that. And in France, of all places !?!? Why not popularize hijab as a fashion garment instead? It already is a fashion statement for Muslim women (check out how they color-coordinate hijab with dress, etc.!) So why not popularize it? Wouldn't that take the religion-political edge off?

So lo and behold, now somebody has come up with the idea of hijab as fashion, especially as sports fashion, for everywoman. http://www.thehijabshop.com/capsters/index.php
First these designer sport hijabs were presented as a solution for Muslim women who want to run, ride, swim, ski ... But now it turns out lots of women are ordering them. (Note the "out of stock" on every single model!) They're pretty, comfy, practical (keep your hair clean, neat, out of the way). Think buff-with-chin-strap or Finland-style-balaklava but loose and airy. And in cool colors, coordinated with other sports gear. Nike also makes some -- in pink! http://www.ohmpage.ca/2006/03/20/nik...-sports-hijab/

For more discussion on this new fashion/religion/identity statement (or is it?) see blog and debate responses at http://www.antoniabance.org.uk/2005/08/04/hijab/