Veil chic

Sheela Abdul has picked a satiny abaya with rhinestone-studded sleeves. “Normally,I’d wear a simpler burqa with thread embroidery,but this is for Eid,” she says. Her friend Nazeem is in the mood for bling too. She tries out a shimmering,crinkled,purple hijab,then a sequined red one. The two women,who live in east Bangalore,are habitués at Islamic Boutique,a store in Frazer Town set up by Junaid K,a Keralite who made Bangalore his home 18 years ago,to cater to Muslim women who wanted fashion consistent with religious dress codes. “Earlier,we had to buy fabric and embellishments and get it stitched by a local tailor,” Nazeem says.

“I was inspired by such stores in Dubai. And I wanted to start a unique business in Bangalore,” says Junaid,who is also the general manager of a chain of hotels. In just two years since it opened,the store has won over 650 loyal customers,besides attracting visitors from Saudi Arabia. From traditional burqas to Hirani tops,pantsuits and greatcoats,there’s something for all ages here. “Our abayas are the fastest-moving—they cost between Rs 1,500 and Rs 23,000. We source the material from Dubai,but we have a designer in Bangalore who stitches them. No two pieces are the same. We also stock ready-made abayas in various colours and prints,” says Mohammad Nisham,manager of the boutique,adding that they get customers from Kerala too. Junaid describes Islamic Boutique as a fashion stop for upper middle-class Muslim women,offering them all they need—jilbab,khimar,niqab,even hijab pins. There are over a dozen mannequins in the two-storey boutique,sporting stylish head-coverings in all colours and textures,from embellished scarves to Kuwaiti shawls. The compact space comes alive with colourful,nightclub-like lighting that bounces off the shiny fabric on display—it’s almost like you’re in an alternative world,removed from the gloom of cloudy Bangalore skies.

Ornate incense stands,perfumes and pins clamour for attention on the display shelves. Razana,one of the six shopping assistants at the store,says,“We get at least 10- 15 customers a day,and up to 50 when there’s a sale.” They sell over 100 abayas a month on average and several times more of hijabs.

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The store has branches in Mangalore and Erode. “The Bangalore one is the most successful,now the shop in Mangalore is also doing well,” Junaid says.

The women take their time shopping—you’re required to leave your shoes at the doorstep—and soft-spoken assistants smile in approval. Perhaps it’s the impending joy of Eid,perhaps it’s the sheer pleasure of finding the beaded scarf they’ve always wanted.