Michael Kors creates floral hijab as part of Middle East exclusives

The American label has embraced modest fashion in its latest offerings

Michael Kors' hijab is part of the label's Middle East collection. Courtesy Michael Kors

First there was Dolce & Gabbana, then there was Nike, and now we can add Michael Kors to the ever-growing list of brands catering for Muslim shoppers.

The luxury label, helmed by American designer Michael Kors, has released its first hijab as part of a spring / summer 2019 capsule collection, which will be sold in stores across the Middle East from this month.

The headscarf is crafted in a lightweight black fabric, and printed with delicate white and olive blooms, and is one of three regionally exclusive designs by Kors.

The label has used the same bucolic pattern on a long-sleeved, woven kaftan, which can be paired with the white Mindy lace-up sneakers, which are finished with floral motifs.

The expansion into modestwear could be an astute move by the American brand, with Muslim shoppers projected to have spent an estimated $484 billion (nearly Dh2 trillion) on clothing and accessories by 2019, according to a 2015 report from Thomson Reuters.

Kors follows in the footsteps of Italian brand Dolce & Gabbana, which released its debut line of high-end hijabs and abayas in 2016, and has gone on to release subsequent modest collections.

The Milanese label also hosted a special runway show in The Dubai Mall last October, while Christian Dior is the latest brand to make a visit to the Middle East. The heritage French label will present its spring / summer 2019 haute couture in Dubai on March 18.

Sportswear giant Nike also released its Pro hijab in 2018, labels such as Oscar de la Renta have crafted Ramadan collections, and luxury e-tailers targeted towards the Muslim market, such as The Modist, have sprouted up in recent years.