A Malaysian Model Is One Of The Faces Of Nike's New Hijabi Swimwear Line
Malaysia represent!
Recently, Nike introduced its first range of modest swimwear
According to Nike, the newly introduced full coverage swimwear for female athletes is lightweight, breathable, quick-drying, full range of motion, and UPF 40+ protection.
The collection will allow Muslim and body-conscious women to choose from a full-body swimsuit or individual pieces including a swimming hijab, a tunic top, and leggings.
"Too often, athletes said, swimwear presented a barrier, rather than a conduit, to enjoying the water," the company said in a statement on 10 December.
"The more we listened, the more possibility we saw to serve female athletes in new dimensions," Nike VP creative director Martha Moore said in a public statement.
"As we continue broadening our vision for innovation, we're excited to inspire more women to see themselves in sport by thinking creatively and designing inclusively. To us, the Nike Victory Swim Collection shows the power of innovation to invite all women to discover the joy of sport."
Image via Nike
And Nike chose a Malaysian as one of the models for the collection
She is Arinna Erin Wira, an inclusive-fashion advocate who enjoys swimming for pleasure.
According to Mashable Southeast Asia, Arinna is a Malaysian model who is signed with BAME Models and stays in the United Kingdom (UK).
Speaking about the modest swimwear, the Malaysian model said, "What I first noticed when I went swimming in this outfit was that my hijab stayed on. It was intact and did not come up at all."
Arinna recently graduated from Brunel University in London with a Master of Science in Business Intelligence and Social Media
A tweet celebrating the Malaysian representation in the new swimwear collection also went viral yesterday, 11 December
Meanwhile, another Muslim woman who was featured by Nike said that she felt "super light and confident" in the new range
"It doesn't weigh you down, and it helped me swim better. It's so different than any of the swimsuits I've ever seen, and I know I can wear this confidently," said Zahra Lari, the first figure skater to don the hijab in competition and a regular swimmer, who tried out the new range.
The Nike Victory Swim Collection will be available beginning February
It will be available for sale on Nike stores online and at some retailers in California, New York City, London, and Dubai, the company announced on 10 December.
While Muslim women in sports have been persistent in the face of discrimination, they continue to face judgment for how they dress.
Recently, Muslim student athlete, Noor Alexandria Abukaram, was disqualified from her race in Ohio because of her hijab:
Close to home, it was reported last month that the Terengganu state government will prohibit women from competing in gymnastics as they "display indecent movements" and "expose their bodies":
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