All hail the burqini
Back in March, Passport highlighted the achievements of Australia’s first Muslim lifeguard contingent and the ability of Muslim women to participate in this lifesaving program thanks to the “burqini“—a two-piece, full-body, lightweight swimsuit designed by Sydney’s Aheda Zanetti, a fashion entrepreneur. Now the burqini, and “Splashgear,” another brand offering full-length swim gear, has made it ...
Back in March, Passport highlighted the achievements of Australia's first Muslim lifeguard contingent and the ability of Muslim women to participate in this lifesaving program thanks to the "burqini"—a two-piece, full-body, lightweight swimsuit designed by Sydney's Aheda Zanetti, a fashion entrepreneur. Now the burqini, and "Splashgear," another brand offering full-length swim gear, has made it to Time's fashion page along with an interesting report about the growing popularity of the swimsuit.
Back in March, Passport highlighted the achievements of Australia’s first Muslim lifeguard contingent and the ability of Muslim women to participate in this lifesaving program thanks to the “burqini“—a two-piece, full-body, lightweight swimsuit designed by Sydney’s Aheda Zanetti, a fashion entrepreneur. Now the burqini, and “Splashgear,” another brand offering full-length swim gear, has made it to Time‘s fashion page along with an interesting report about the growing popularity of the swimsuit.
It not just Muslim women who have taken to the burqini, Time reports. Conservative Christians, cancer patients, the elderly and others have found the burqini liberating, and demand for the product has grown in places as distant as Malaysia, South Africa, and the United States. But with its growing popularity, the burqini has also attracted its fair share of critics. Conservative Muslims have denounced the swimsuit as un-Islamic (for revealing curves), while some feminists have decried it as dehumanizing, just like the traditional burqa.
“Clearly you’re not considered a full human being if you’re mandated to cover yourself head to toe in this tent,” says Taina Bien-Aimé, the executive director of the women’s rights organization Equality Now.
In spite of these condemnations, the burqini has succeeded in filling a gap in the market, and has been lauded an “export success” (pdf) by Austrade, Australia’s international trade promotion body. As Zanetti puts it,
I’m a very small business with a product the whole world wants.”
Correction: “Splashgear” was mistakenly referred to as the “scuba equivalent” of the burqini. It is actually a loose-fitting, nylon/lycra surfer rash guard shirt coupled with a polyester swim bottom that are a pants version of the popular men’s board shorts. While some Splashgear wearers like to use it for snorkling, it can also be used for regular swimming in pools and the ocean. Apologies for the error.
More from Foreign Policy
At Long Last, the Foreign Service Gets the Netflix Treatment
Keri Russell gets Drexel furniture but no Senate confirmation hearing.
How Macron Is Blocking EU Strategy on Russia and China
As a strategic consensus emerges in Europe, France is in the way.
What the Bush-Obama China Memos Reveal
Newly declassified documents contain important lessons for U.S. China policy.
Russia’s Boom Business Goes Bust
Moscow’s arms exports have fallen to levels not seen since the Soviet Union’s collapse.
Sign up for World Brief
FP’s flagship evening newsletter guiding you through the most important world stories of the day. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.
