Can swimwear be Islamic?

I popped along to Islamexpo at the weekend along with several thousand other people. One of the things that caught my eye was a range of Islamic sportswear and swimwear for Muslim women, designed for the active hijab wearing Muslim woman. Check it out here.

Her marketing blurb is slick - and also on target. Muslim sportswomen, whether amateur or professional are always focused on for the "Muslim" part of their identity, before people turn to their enthusiasm, success and talent in their chosen sport. She's identified a huge gap in the market.

She's chosen to address it through clothing. But she prompts more interesting wider questions about general sporting facilities and participation for Muslim women. Where are the encouragement and the facilities?

I remain sceptical about the idea of swimwear. When you go into the water, Ahiida's designs are excellent. But when you come out of the water, your clothing is still skin tight, and although you are covered from head to foot, it's the clinginess that is problematic, in my humble opinion. But maybe the design has some inflatable bubbles you can activate when you exit the water so your shape is hidden till the swimsuit dries out?

But make up your own minds at www.ahiida.com.