Salam everyone!

I’m Erin, and I recently became the Merchandise Planner for Haute Hijab. It has been an absolute honor and joy to be on this journey with such a wonderful #HHFam!

Originally from Chicago, I’m a music teacher by trade, as well as an occasional writer. If you’ve been part of the Haute Hijab community for awhile, then you may remember me answering your customer emails back in the day! I first joined the team in 2012 to manage inventory, customer service and order fulfillment in Chicago while Melanie and Ahmed were in Dubai – and for the next couple of years, it was pretty much just the three of us. I would handpack each order, fill up those big blue IKEA bags with all the packages and then trudge around Chicago on foot – rain, sun or snow – to get them shipped out to you. We outgrew this setup by the summer of 2014, but I still stayed on to help periodically with the blog or writing product descriptions.

In my “other life,” I’m a musician and an active member of the improv and sketch comedy community – I’ve been performing improv since 2013, and have been a musical director for comedy/theatrical groups for the past three years or so. Before coming to NYC, I frequently performed at the many comedy theatres in Chicago, and even got to work aboard the Norwegian Dawn for several months as part of a Second City cast! (Fun fact – I still wrote product descriptions for HH while I was working on the ship – in fact, I named the Bermuda Seas Hijab while I was sitting next to the literal Bermuda sea! It was a proud moment for me lol.) I have always been someone who loves to laugh and make others laugh, so it’s a truly soul-nourishing outlet for me. Now that I’m in NYC, I’d like to push myself out of my comfort zone and focus more on the music side of things. I’ve always had stage fright, especially when it comes to my own songwriting – but I’m slowly learning to conquer it!

Growing up in a pretty WASPy family in the suburbs of Chicago, I didn’t have a lot of exposure to Islam or Muslims early in life – at least not much that I was aware of. I was 12 years old and in seventh grade on September 11, 2001. It was only then that the rest of the world brought to my attention that one of my best friends at the time, Insiya – who sat behind me in English class, made me laugh and was an absolute genius – also happened to be Muslim. I couldn’t make sense of the things the media (or the random racist guy at my parents’ church) said about Muslims, and how little they resembled my kind, smart, funny friend. I didn’t know what it was, but I knew something was up – and I’m an INFJ, so when I see something unfair, I can get a *tiny* bit obsessive about trying to correct it. This experience at the age of 12 set me on a path of seeking that I’ve been on ever since.

When I started college in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago, where many shop signs are in Arabic, grocery stores carry fresh knafeh, and the masjid was a few steps from my apartment, it felt only natural for me to start taking courses in Arabic. I was at a point of burnout with my music ed studies and looking for a new outlet – I signed up instantly on a whim, not knowing that my life, my circle of friends and my outlook on the world would be forever changed.

Through my studies, I received a Critical Language Scholarship to study Arabic intensively at Qasid Institute in Amman, Jordan, where I lived during the height of the Arab Spring. I also became involved with the Interfaith Youth Core, and with their help I started an interfaith group on my campus – a first for a university founded by evangelical Christians. When I was invited to join in a “Headscarves in Solidarity” event, I happily joined in, and wrote a blog about the experience. I shared it as a guest post on the HH blog, and that’s how I was initially connected to the HH fam – the rest is history!

When Ahmed and Melanie called me last year to see if I would be interested in relocating to NYC to join the team full-time, I honestly didn’t hesitate for a second – I think they were a little shocked that I didn’t ask for time to think about it or something! I have always loved fashion, was excited about the prospect of living in New York, and most importantly I really love and believe in the mission of Haute Hijab, so it was a no-brainer for me.

As Merchandise Planner, most of my responsibilities are product-related. Since I’ve been around for awhile, I know very well how frustrating it can be when your favorite hijabs sell out on the website. A key part of my new role is to keep track of our inventory, analyze sales and trends, and work with our manufacturers to make sure things stay in stock (or get re-stocked much sooner!). I also name the prints (besides the ones you name on Instagram!), create the product descriptions, research industry trends and innovations, work with Melanie and Gizelle to develop new products, and curate all our hijabs on the website so that you have an easier time finding what you need. In a nutshell, if it’s product-related, I make it my business!

I am so incredibly proud to be part of a company and a community that uplifts and empowers women. I never lost that seeker side of myself, or my desire to hold a microphone to those who are misunderstood, to help them be seen and heard for who they really are. To be able to invest myself in such a unique intersection of fashion and faith really does mean the world to me, and I can’t wait to continue the journey!

Much love,

Erin