Nike's First Hijab For Athletes Is Finally Available
Nike made headlines earlier this year when it announced it would be creating a sports hijab specifically engineered for female Muslim athletes. After months of anticipation (and even a fashion cover moment), the Nike Pro Hijab is finally available for purchase.
Starting today, Nike’s first-ever hijab will be available for purchase at select Macy’s stores. On December 7, you’ll be able to buy it on Nike’s website, as well as in select brick-and-mortar locations. The Nike Pro Hijab is sold in two colorways (black and obsidian) and in two sizes (XS/S and ML), and will retail for $35.
Timed to the launch, Nike also released its campaign for the Pro Hijab, highlighting the many women who can now turn to the retailer for a product that meets their dressing needs without interrupting their game. Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, who recently had a Barbie created in her likeness (the first to wear a hijab!), stars alongside Emrati figure skater Zahra Lari, German boxer Zeina Nassar, and Emrati weightlifter Amna Al Haddad.
PHOTO: Nike
Before the Nike Pro Hijab, Muhammad often struggled finding a style that not only fit under her helmet, but also wasn’t made of a heavy (and often sweaty) material that obstructed her hearing, which could affect her game. “First, I’d get a warning and then a point against me… I can’t tell you how many times that happened. And I’d tell the referee, ‘Oh, I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear you,'” she recalled in a statement. When she finally got to try a sample of the new Nike product in August, the difference was instantly recognizable: “Suddenly, I could hear, I wasn’t as hot and it felt like my body was able to cool itself down better and faster. It really sunk in how much my previous hijab was hindering my performance[.]”
PHOTO: Nike
U.S. Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad in the Nike Pro Hijab
Breathable gear is essential to all athletes for an optimal performance, regardless of background—and for something like a hijab, that goes on the head, it’s even more crucial to find one that stays cool when you wear it. Nike relied on multiple rounds of prototype testing with athletes in various sports to nail the fit and manufacturing. The final version is made of an ultra-breathable, flexible fabric that both fits different face shapes and keeps athletes cool and comfortable.
PHOTO: Nike
German boxer Zeina Nassar in the Nike Pro Hijab
The Nike Pro Hijab goes beyond addressing the technical needs of a group of athletes; it’s also a sign that the sportswear world is making moves towards inclusivity. Female Muslim athletes who didn’t see themselves represented, nor do they feel their needs are considered, in this space can now find the gear they need easily—from one of the world’s biggest and most recognizable brands. And this makes all the difference: Muhammad says that Nike’s latest offering “will help advance the conversation around hijabs and Muslim women in sports and further make sports an inclusive space.” Runner Manal Rostrom added that it’ll give underrepresented female athletes a confidence boost: “I believe it’s going to inspire girls worldwide to follow their passion for sport,” she said.
PHOTO: Nike
Emirati figure skater Zahra Lari in the Nike Pro Hijab
After today’s global launch, Nike has further plans to make more iterations of the Nike Pro Hijab to suit different styles. In January 2018, customers can also expect to see hijabs in a broader range of colorways. Until then, customers who haven’t had success finding a hijab that suits their sport are finally being served—and represented.
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The First-Ever Hijab-Wearing Barbie Is Here, and Ibtihaj Muhammad Is Beyond Excited
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