Captivating & trailblazing is the best way to describe the latest fashion collection from the talented designer ZinebHazim. Zineb founded her eponymous fashion brand in 2021,
and today more than ever, she has gained recognition in the fashion industry for representing Muslim women and combating stereotypes, while advocating for diversity.
Zineb is of Italian and Moroccan origin. She has already made her mark on the fashion industry and is a highly sought-after designer in the modest fashion world. Having gained success in Italy, and also being congratulated by one of the most famous fashion editors in the world. She felt encouraged to create a clothing label that meets the needs of Muslim women in professional life in Italy and Europe. Her style is original and easily recognizable, fashionable, elegant, innovative, and unique, she certainly has a style. At Maroc fashion week, she showcased a variety of long coats, sparkling dresses, and pants. The collection was colorful and elegant. Her abayas demonstrated femininity with delicacy and respect; we are impressed by this young lady who is soft-spoken and gentle, humble yet courageous with a determined character and explosive talent.
Fashion must be in your soul. What prompted you to enter the fashion world and launch Zineb Hazim?
I decided to wear the hijab at the age of 12, but the way I wanted to wear it was completely different from how other people wore it. My mother wore the hijab, and I noticed that sometimes people were looking at her, and some were even afraid of her. At that instance, I decided I wanted to modernize the hijab and to design trendy modest garments to be equal to everyone else. That was the beginning of my quest to study fashion and launch the label “Zineb Hazim”.
How did your fashion sense develop?
Thanks to my constant curiosity to discover everything I was able to learn many things that helped me in my career as a fashion designer. I remember when I was in high school I used
to pick up all the scraps of fabric that were laying around in school, it’s been almost 11 years and I still have those scraps in my workshop.
Can you provide more information about your label, including its origin and the style influences behind it?
The idea of the brand was born in 2005, while I was still in middle school, I had decided to wear the hijab following the fashion trends. In 2007 I enrolled in a school of clothing, accessories, and footwear because I wanted to have a total idea and concept of everything.
After 5 years I graduated getting ”thankfully” good grades. From there I decided to continue my study path. I wanted to go to a private academy, but it was difficult as it was very expensive for me at that time so I decided to take a first job in 2013, after 3 years I became the manager, and 2 years later was promoted to director. I felt extremely proud of myself, especially as a veiled woman. But what made me even happier was that I had never thought of my veil being an obstacle in my life so consequently the people around me saw me as a strong woman, because, unlike other girls who wore the veil, they thought of it as an obstacle in their study and work.
It was in 2018 that I finally enrolled in the private fashion academy and in 2019 officially registered my brand “Zineb Hazim”. I attended the academy but many people around me did not agree with my path choice. The reason was that I was a woman and that only men could have a career.
Two years later in September 2021, I presented my collection for the first time at the Milan Fashion Week, a collection called Abaya Businesswoman I designed a collection focusing on hijab for Muslim businesswomen, a modest and trendy type of clothing, the collection was all reversible, so it was very convenient for women who travel for work. They could wear different styles from one garment, and from there, my brand began. My name started to appear in newspaper articles, TV, etc.
The style of the brand is elegant because I believe elegance is a fundamental thing, both for women and men. Elegance in dressing, in speaking, eating, everything. Elegance should be a lifestyle according to my reasoning.
What is your design process and choice of colors and fabrics?
The choice of colors is made after long research both in nature and on the internet, then imagining the garments in those colors. As far as fabrics are concerned, I always go to different stores where they sell fabrics and I always choose the ones that strike me at first glance because I always say that the things that strike you first are the right ones.
Please tell us more about the theme story behind your recent 2023 collection.
The recent collection I presented at Maroc Fashion Week is called LOVE YOURSELF, dedicated to me as a birthday present which was March 8th. Loving yourself first is a very important thing for me because if you don’t love yourself, you can’t love anyone else else. Each garment I created represented some incident that happened in my senior year of school.
How do your memories or experiences influence your projects?
My memories and my experiences greatly influence what I do, because during my career I have experienced many negative prejudices, but my will was stronger than the gossip of others. I was told constantly that should not work, that I can’t have a career, and so many other negative words, but thank God I was able to realize part of my dream.
Who are your fashion icons?
My fashion icons are Elie Saab, Zuhair Zurad, and Valentino amongst many others. One of my dreams that I have yet to realize would be to meet Elie Saab because he has always been a source of inspiration for me.
I am also inspired by women who have managed to have a career, people such as Princess Rania, Princess Salma, Lojain Omran, and Cheikha Mouzah, the women whom I adore and respect so much that I would love to see wearing one of my clothes.
Can you share your perception of modesty?
So many people misunderstand modesty. To be modest you don’t have to follow fashion, and this was one of the strongest points that I always try to represent in my collections, presenting modest fashion but also trendy and sensual garments at the same time.
Please tell us about your brand vision
My vision of the brand is to reach the level of the big fashion houses one day, such as Elie Saab, etc. I believe in my creations, I consider them very original and I’m sure I can reach high levels, and I will. Every garment I create I do it with all my heart, I put love and passion completely into it.
Where does the brand’s attention to sustainability come from?
My sensitivity to sustainability comes from the fact of using men’s garments, transforming them into women’s garments, and using scraps of leftover fabric to create details revisiting my grandmother’s garments, etc…
To create a garment, you don’t necessarily need to have expensive materials, but with a used garment, you can create something unique and truly wonderful.
Please tell us about an achievement you are very proud of.
The first result was the particular one because I had seen the reaction of people and their curiosity to discover my brand, discover the term hijab and abayas, DISCOVER THE HIJABIST WOMAN ON THE CATWALK OF THE MILAN FASHION WEEK.
What is one fashion tip you can give to our readers on how to marry your hijab with your outfit?
Don’t be afraid to wear the hijab for fear of not being fashionable.
Text by Suna Ahmed
Photos by Paul Tomasini
