Fitness brand Sweaty Betty has just launched its first ‘performance hijab‘ for fitness fans to wear whilst working out.
The brand says it is on a mission to empower women through fitness and is committed to breaking down any barriers that restrict access to physical activity.
They’ve spent over a year of development, wearer trials, workshops and feedback from both customers and staff developing a ‘technical hijab’ that they promise stays secure during activities – from training sessions to competitive sport.
“The hijab is simple yet highly functional,” they say of the £25 piece that’s made from sweat-wicking, lightweight and breathable fabric and comes in sizes S/M and M/L.
“We hope that this will facilitate an underrepresented group of women to compete at their optimal level of performance”, says Sweaty Betty Chief Product Officer, Jemma Cassidy. “No matter your size, age, skin colour or religion, we want to empower every woman to lead a healthy lifestyle.”
The brand isn’t resting on its laurels, with plans to expand the category later this year in hope of ‘minimising the practical challenges of being a hijabi athlete, and make fitness a more inclusive space for everyone’.
Sweaty Betty isn’t the first activewear brand to launch a hijab. In 2017, global sportswear company, Nike, released its first sports hijab into retail, to help female Muslim athletes become suitably represented in the world of professional sports.
The Nike Pro Hijab was in development for over a year and is made out of light, stretchy fabric in order to tackle the performance problems faced when wearing a traditional hijab during sports such as lack of breathability and the chance of it shifting during movement.
“The Nike Pro Hijab has been a year in the making, but its impetus can be traced much further back to Nike’s founding mission, to serve athletes, with the signature addendum: If you have a body, you’re an athlete,” the brand said in a statement at the time.