WHY FASHION IS FOR
EVERYONE
“I hate that there is a separation. I want everyone to be involved and be inspired by each other,” Haida Hamidi - stylist, student and strong woman opens up about what she wishes the fashion industry was like.
BY ROSEY MILLS
The fashion industry doesn’t give everyone the easiest ride but Haida Hamidi has learnt from her experiences. As a Muslim woman she has already struggled and encountered indifference to her peers. “In my case it has been indirect many times especially in one of my recent shoots where I was the only person of colour,” she explains that her skin colour, religion and even dress has created mediocrity even in the early stages of her career. Studying fashion branding and communications at Birmingham City University, the aspiring stylist wants to create a sea of equality, togetherness and overall inspiration.
Haida is the proof that fashion is for everyone. Despite challenges and boundaries put up by the industry the aspiring stylist relates to many people of colour by expressing that “I felt like I was treated differently in this industry many times whether it was somewhere educational or professional and this is the reason I feel more comfortable working with people of colour,” she adds, “ my biggest dream is to see society and industries respect every culture and religion. I want everyone to learn about everyone's culture and be inspired by it rather than making fun of it or using it because it's a hot topic.” This comes after many fashion brands have been under fire by supporting the Black Lives Matter movement only when it was trending and in subsequent months the brands have suddenly ‘gone silent.’
STYLING; HAIDA HAMIDI
As an advocate for young Muslim women Haida tells us how she struggled with dressing modest as well as educating others on why and how Muslim women dress. She expresses that she has “always struggled to dress modestly and when I got the hang of it I wanted to show everyone that it's simple,” she further adds, ”we don’t have stores here that sell modest clothing specifically or sections in stores that have modest pieces, so it is all about styling and layering.” And in fact, one of the reasons why Haida decided to pursue a career in fashion and styling was to “educate and hopefully stop racism,” she passionately adds, "I want people to understand what modesty is and why Muslims wear modest clothes. There's a lot of misunderstandings and I hope to clear that not only with modest clothes but with many things in general as some have been brainwashed by the media and others opinions rather than real facts.”
On the topic of her career Haida says so far it has been “Funny, It's been very funny a lot of shocks and surprises as well as high and low times. One day I am depressed thinking I will never make it then I get a message to join a big project then I’m motivated again.” She recently gained the opportunity to “work with a magazine called Al-Naaem, an editorial magazine exploring the rising of the blackened Muslim culture within the fashion industry. I work as an assistant director, so I run the magazine with the owner.” And she hopes that in her near future she’ll be able to work with “New, small and sustainable brands,” and she believes, ”they work harder than bigger brands and care about the environment and ethical rights, they deserve more publicity because they do good to people and our world and it's unfortunate how we turn an blind eye on them. It doesn’t matter about how many followers they have, I focus on their values and creativity.”
This young, stylish and honest woman is what the fashion industry really needs. People who want to bring others together and create a sincere environment to work in where all are welcome is what we hope for the future of fashion.