Last season, Indonesian designer Anniesa Hasibuan made history by becoming the first-ever designer to present a New York Fashion Week collection with hijabs. Now, amidst a season where multiple brands have taken the opportunity to make political statements with their shows, the Muslim designer decided to respond to the anti-immigrant policies we currently face by casting her show entirely with immigrants and second-generation children of immigrants.
"For me, fashion is an open world. I don't want to discriminate," she told ELLE.com through a translator after her show last night. "The ability to express diversity in this business is a value that I hold on to. [Diversity] is what fashion is for me."
"This show was the opportunity to show that Islam is beautiful," the designer continued. "I believe everyone should be presented with equal opportunities, especially if he or she has passion, talents, and skills, because not all immigrants are 'bad.' We've proved they are beautiful and a great contribution to the States."
During castings, models were interviewed about their thoughts on what is happening in politics. "About the Muslim ban, I think it made me really sad because, first of all, my mom is also Muslim—but I think that religion shouldn't be an issue to immigrate," one model, Chantal Kammerman, who is Swiss-African, explained in her casting video. Calling to mind the time she spent in a Syrian refugee camp last year, she wondered aloud, "Is it wrong to escape your country just to have a better life? To wish for a better future? To have a proper education?"
She continued, "It's really important that we come together. That we fight for the good. And we rise. And we love. And we support each other. I'm going to fight for that as long as I can."
Hasibuan hopes that she can continue to promote and spread the image that women who wear the hijab "can be as stylish and glamorous as other women can be" and that so-called modest fashion is something to appreciate, not chide. "Difference is not something to be afraid of—it's something you should embrace," she said. "We have this vision and mission of bringing peace, and fashion is one of the means we can use to spread these beautiful values to the world."
Watch her full runway show, ahead.
[youtube ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P5jAOUIuZY&app=desktop[/youtube]
