Gone are the days when abayas were seen as a typical religious attire restricting the women. Now strong women carry abayas with sheer elegance and grace and break the stereotypes. Some people often see the Abaya as an unattractive black robe that restricts the freedom of women and does not allow them to express themselves freely. However, this is a complete misconception that needs to be cleared. Rather than being a restriction, this piece of clothing serves as a symbol of empowerment and gives women the liberty to roam freely.
We won’t go into the religious debate about whether wearing it is compulsory or not. But since, apart from being a religious obligation, the Abaya has become a modest attire that women wear by choice and show their feminine power, we will discuss how the Abaya empowers women and helps them to express their individuality, creativity, and cultural identity. Let’s explore how the Abaya serves as a canvas for women to express themselves.
Artistic Expression And Embroidery
While the Abaya adheres to the principles of modesty, it also provides ample opportunities for creativity and self-expression. Modern abayas come in a wide range of designs, colors, and fabrics. From intricate embroidery and embellishments to unique cuts and silhouettes, designers have transformed the Abaya into a fashion statement. Women can choose abayas that reflect their personal style, allowing them to stand out and express their individuality.
History And Origin Of Abaya Embroidery
Traditionally, abayas came without embroidery, but over time the design and other features have changed drastically. When women started seeing abayas as everyday wear, the makers started to add intricate details and delicate embroidery to enhance the look. The art of embroidery on abayas has traveled across the globe in various forms crossing borders and adapting to the ethnicities of various cultures and communities. Now you can easily find abayas with different kinds of embroideries showcasing diverse cultures, giving you a chance to pick the Abaya of your choice according to your mood, preference, and personal choices.
Abaya Fashion Industry – A New Rise In Emirati Culture
Modern-day abayas are now a significant part of the Emirati fashion industry, where you can find abayas for every occasion and every season. On the one hand, you can find special occasion abayas for weddings, parties, and functions. Similarly, for casual wear, day-to-day abayas are present, and a little bit thicker abayas for winter are there. Other than these, many other forms of abayas are also easily available, making it easy for women to pick whatever they feel comfortable in. This growing industry of abayas in the UAE has given a sense of liberty and empowerment to women that their dress code is acknowledged, and they have several choices to showcase their personalities.
Freedom Of Choice
Contrary to popular misconceptions, the Abaya is not forced upon women; it is a personal choice. Many women choose to wear the Abaya as a means of expressing their autonomy and independence. The Abaya empowers women by giving them control over their appearance and how they present themselves to the world. It is a statement of self-determination, where women decide how they want to be perceived.
In a world that often attempts to dictate how women should look and dress, the Abaya serves as a powerful symbol of empowerment. Far from being a garment that restricts freedom, the Abaya allows women to express their personalities. It provides a platform for women to challenge stereotypes, embrace their heritage, and assert their autonomy. By wearing the Abaya, women proudly stand as a symbol of strength, resilience, and self-expression, making a statement that their voices deserve to be heard and their presence has to be noticed.
Empowering Through Color and Fabric Choices
Now that we are aware of how Abaya empowers women, let’s move towards various styles of colors and fabrics and see what they showcase and how a woman can express her personality through different abaya styles.
Fabric Options
- Nada: An abaya made from nada fabric is the most luxurious and high-quality one. It’s the composition of 100% polyester that makes the Abaya so prime. The drapes fall effortlessly, and the softness of the fabric can keep you cool all day. If you choose to wear a nada abaya, your personality will come out as an elegant and stylish strong woman who knows how to carry herself.
- Georgette: Georgette is another basic fabric used in the majority of abayas and often worn on casual occasions. It’s a little denser and more opaque than Nada but gives a beautiful drape. A georgette abaya is for women who want to look stylish yet minimalist. It is for more casual events rather than luxurious ones.
- Linen: If you come across a woman wearing a linen abaya, you can regard her as a rough and tough one who knows how to carry herself and her attire in all situations. Since the threads of linen fabric are more durable than other fabrics, the linen abayas tend to last longer without wear and tear.
- Chiffon: Chiffon abayas are the ones women often choose to wear on formal occasions. The sheer fabric adds to grace and femininity while offering a beautiful flow. You can also get a maxi-type abaya for events where you want to go extravagant without losing your modesty. Moreover, you also have the choice to add a lining or just go without it.
- Crepe: Crepe abayas are for women who don’t like loose and flowy abayas. It is the perfect choice of fabric for body-fit outfits. The fabric is slippery and can be worn for long hours as it doesn’t crease at all. You can go for a crepe abaya to show your personal preferences and choices.
- Jersey: Similarly to crepe, the jersey is also the fabric for slim-fit abayas. It’s a stretchy fabric that adjusts according to your body structure and gives you a stylish and modern look.
As you can see, multiple options are there for women who want to carry an abaya. The choice of fabrics and styles empowers women to showcase the traits of their personalities. The type of Abaya that a woman chooses provides insights into her personality and gives an idea about her choices.
Color Choices
Similarly, like the choice of fabric, the color also speaks volumes. Modern abayas do not stick to black only. Instead, you have got a variety of color options to choose from. Let’s check out some of the most common color options and how they may define a personality.
- Pastel Color Abayas: Pastel-colored abayas like powder pink, lilac, beige, sky blue, and other muted shades show sheer elegance. Ideally, they can be worn at daytime events to stand out due to your style.
- Darker Shades: For formal functions like dinner parties and other formal gatherings, darker shades like emerald green, navy blue, and deep maroon add a luxurious feel to the attire. If the dark-colored abayas are paired with some signature accessories, modern women can make a statement.
- Signature Black: While black abayas are too mainstream, we can’t deny the strong impression it makes. It showcases a strong independent woman, carrying her personality with grace and elegance.
Other than color and fabric choices, you can also make a lasting impression through the patterns and different stitching styles. Printed abayas are also trending nowadays, providing you the liberty to express yourself more freely. If you are a young teenage girl who wants to showcase her colorful personality, you can go for a vibrant-colored one. Moreover, you can express your personality by wearing an elegant maxi-style abaya too. All in all, modern abayas available at abaya shops give you complete all round liberty to express your personality and style.
Modern Abaya Styles: Inspiring Others
While the various styles of Abaya offer the freedom to express the personality, they also are great tools to inspire others. The women who carry this attire with grace and elegance are a source of inspiration for many others. Let’s have an overview of how abaya-carrying women encourage and motivate other fellow women.
Embracing Cultural Identity
The Abaya is deeply rooted in the cultural and religious heritage of Muslim women. It symbolizes the values of modesty, dignity, and self-respect. By wearing the Abaya, women proudly embrace their cultural identity and assert their connection to their roots. It serves as a reminder of their heritage and allows them to express their devotion to their faith.
Empowering In Professional Spaces
The Abaya plays a significant role in empowering women in professional environments. In countries like the UAE, where the Abaya is a cultural norm, it allows women to navigate workspaces while maintaining their cultural and religious identity. By providing a relieving sense of comfort and security, the Abaya enables women to focus on their professional growth and contributions without feeling pressured to conform to Western standards of dress. It allows them to be seen for their skills, knowledge, and achievements rather than their appearance.
Breaking Stereotypes
Wearing the Abaya challenges stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding Muslim women. It serves as a visual reminder that women can be strong, intelligent, and successful while upholding their religious and cultural beliefs. The Abaya becomes a tool to combat prejudice and discrimination by showcasing the diversity and complexity of Muslim women. It allows them to reclaim their narrative and defy the limited perceptions often associated with their faith.
Solidarity And Unity
The Abaya promotes a sense of solidarity and unity among women. When women come together in their abayas, they form a powerful collective identity that transcends borders and cultural differences. The Abaya becomes a unifying symbol, reminding women of their shared experiences, struggles, and aspirations. It fosters a sense of community and empowers women to support and uplift one another.
Wrapping It Up
Modern-day abayas are now seen as a statement dress giving you countless opportunities to showcase your personality. The unlimited choices range from various embroidery styles to color, fabric, and design options. Not only does this modest attire empower women, but it also inspires other fellow women and gives a sense of solidarity. Now Abaya is no longer regarded as a restriction. Instead, it is a modern attire that visualizes strong and confident women who know how to carry themselves with grace. If you are also looking for stylish and elegant abayas that would add to your confidence, you can check the wide collection featured on Onyx Abaya. We are a leading abaya shop in Dubai, creating statement abayas for daring and self-confident women. Browse our website today, order the alluring and majestic abayas from our collection, and make your personality stand out.
