Halima Aden is breaking barriers inside the style industry at a time when xenophobia is at the top. A proud Somali-American version became UNICEF ambassador; she made records because she was the first Miss Minnesota pageant contestant to don a hijab and a burkini on a degree. A year later, she signed with a global modeling agency, IMG Models, becoming their first-ever hijabi model. She was because she walked in runway shows for Yeezy, MaxMara, and Alberta Ferretti, graced the covers of Vogue UK, Paper, and Allure, and racked up a six-digit Instagram following.
We caught up with the 21-year-antique twiglet after H&M’s Conscious collection event in Los Angeles, where she showed her assistance for the brand’s focus on sustainable style. “I look at the brand’s values and if it aligns with mine,” she instructed Refinery29 while asked why she helps H&M Conscious. “The paintings that [H&M is] doing with their Conscious Exclusive collection is the entirety that I want to paintings for as far as shielding our environment and becoming more aware.”
She wore a v-neck maxi to get dressed from the gathering for the occasion, noting that she styled it modestly. “It nevertheless works for me because I paired it with a turtleneck. It appeared as if those pieces belonged together.” She also fell in love with the get dressed’s matching headscarf. “I tried a headscarf that was part of the gathering as an accent; however, I wore it as a hijab, and it complimented the get dressed.”
Halima is likewise embarking on her first-ever design task. Working with Modanisa, a Turkish brand that gives modest alternatives to ladies across the globe, Halima designed a 27-piece series of hijabs, turbans, and shawls. It will debut at Istanbul’s Modest Fashion Week later this month. “It’s going to be primary,” she teased. “My hijab is better to get information because I’m so excited.” Inspired by her close to 1,000,000 Instagram followers, the gathering is stocked full of pre-tied, colorful alternatives that are ideal for human beings on the go. “I observed the colors and patterns my followers asked for and which of them got the most remarks, so I’m hoping every hijabi finds something that works for her and her normal lifestyle.”She’s ultimately starting to see a shift within the retail enterprise toward embracing modest fashion. “I suppose now, more than ever, manufacturers [are] starting to see a modest market. Women want to discover outfits that paint with their way of life, paintings with their character fashion.” Representation on the runway is increasing as properly. “Just three years in the past, there wasn’t an unmarried hijab-carrying version, and nowadays, there are ten people, so I have to give the industry a large bravo — I’m honestly impressed.”Between using her platform to unfold UNICEF’s message, encouraging manufacturers to embody the contemporary style marketplace, and growing her line of hijabs and turbans, Halima Aden is doing all of it. Her give an up-all-be-all recommendation? “Always stay real to yourself, realize your worth as a younger lady, attempt to usually do the proper component, be patient, paint difficult, and dream BIG.”
