A Muslim entrepreneur has developed a self-cooling, water proof and wrinkle-free hijab, (Islamic veil) following the footsteps of inventors of fire fighting gear and sweatsuits.
Ahmad Ghanem decided to invent the veil, the first-ever “climate-adaptive hijab”, for the hot summer days.
The new veil was inspired by performance-wear companies like Nike and Under Armour. ‘Cool Dry’ hijab is made of a special fabric that keeps wearers 7 to 10 degrees cooler than the standard hijab, BuzzFeed reported.
“I was thinking that there was so much incorporated technology with performance clothing. Why hasn’t anyone done this for the hijab,” said Ghanem. “These women need it more than any of the athletes who have clothing for them readily available. They’re the ones who wear the hijab rain or shine, in heat or under cold conditions.”
After a year and a half of researching various fabrics and manufacturers, the 22-year old from Cleveland, Ohio, launched his brand on Kickstarter with a goal of reaching $5,000. Within three days, he’s raised almost twice as much.
Trying hundreds of different options over the course of two years, Ghanem found a nylon material, to replace traditional fabrics like silks, chiffons and cottons, which blocks 80% of heat, offers UV protection, and is completely waterproof.
The new material has already seen its fair share of changes over the years. “I want to continue to innovate, revolutionize and change the way people see the hijab,” he said.
“These women are the strongest and they deserve everything. The hate and verbal abuse many of them receive is wrong and unfair. I hope my brand can inspire them to go out and be what they want to be,” he added.
Ghanem hopes the brand goes international, to comfort women in his native Palestine where desert temperatures can rise well past 50 degrees centigrade.
Not only is this an opportunity for social change, he sees this as a real business. “There are a billion Muslims around the world and the population is only getting bigger. There’s real potential for big sales.”
The ‘Cool Dry’ designed for “lifestyle and comfort” can be used for athletic wear with its sweat-wicking and climate adaptive properties. It can also be used as a scarf and currently comes in black, Silver Lake blue and bright white.
