This past July we were invited to take part in the Global Islamic Economic Summit's Modest Fashion Rountable in Turin, Italy and we were thrilled to be a part of such a novel initiative!
We arrived in Turin a little early and instantly fell in love! For the first day I wore this navy cross-over top with the Spring Fever Scarf, white jeans and neutral accents.
Turin, or Torino in Italian used to be the capital of Italy - so it's laced with stunning historical buildings and gorgeous town squares.
We met up with Ahmed and Deanna of
Abaya Addict as well as our long-time friend
Langston Hues, who were also attending the event.
On the first official day of the event we took a guided tour of the city followed by a boat cruise and dinner at a very posh row club on the water.
Group shot with just some of the power-house ladies in attendance!
My ensemble from earlier in the day, photographed by
Langston HuesThe following day we made our way to City Hall, the venue for the roundtable and it was beautiful!
Opening address from the Mayor of Turin
For the roundtable I wore the Classic Day Skirt in Striped, a white oxford and a vintage Haute Hijab
One of the major benefits to the Modest Fashion Roundtable beyond the fruitful discussion was the brother and sisterhood forged between all the represented brands and companies - we got the privilege to meet and get to know the faces behind the names of some major players in the industry. It was incredibly refreshing to hear their stories, their triumphs, their challenges and the commonalities we all share.
We had great dialogue and tried to solve some real issues like defining "Islamic" or "modest" fashion, whether to set guidelines in order to be a "halal" certified brand, ethical issues ranging from the supply chain to Islamic financing, among other compelling issues. There was an extremely fruitful discussion and some real productive starting points to professionalize this very new industry.
This city is just a dream! When we first heard the roundtable was going to be in Turin, we thought it was a little random - but it turned out to be a real hidden gem, more beautiful than some other major European cities we've visited!
For our final night we rented bikes and explored the city - it was a ton of fun!
Be sure to follow me on Instagram and Snapchat @hautehijab for more of my travel adventures!