FashionNewsNike launches hijab collection for female Muslim athletesThe Nike Pro Hijab line will launch next year, informed by a weightlifter and figure skater from the United Arab EmiratesShareLink copied ✔️March 8, 2017FashionNewsTextAnna Cafolla After a year’s development, Nike has revealed a hijab collection designed for female Muslim athletes: a step towards making sport more inclusive. The design was developed with help from weightlifter Amna Al Haddad and figure skater Zahra Lari, both from the United Arab Emirate. “Can’t believe this is finally here!!” Lari, an upcoming Winter Olympics hopeful, wrote in an IG post which showed her wearing a piece of the collection. Nike’s pull-on hijab is made of a light polyester material, with small holes to improve breathability and a longer back to ensure it doesn’t come untucked while exercising or performing. It will also come in black, grey and obsidian, and be available to buy in 2018. Nike is launching a hijab collection line for Muslim female athletes. This is the future 🙌🏾 pic.twitter.com/tUwF2jXu7f— ✨ (@melaninist) March 7, 2017Most patronising. I've been wearing a scarf and exercising fine for years, just as small businesses have BEEN making scarves for activewear. https://t.co/BFpjn8jdCR— Aaisha Dadi Patel (@aaishadadipatel) March 7, 2017 “The Nike Pro Hijab has been a year in the making, but its impetus can be traced much further back to Nike’s founding mission, to serve athletes, with the signature addendum: If you have a body, you’re an athlete,” the sportswear brand said in a statement. “This movement first permeated international consciousness in 2012, when a hijabi runner took the global stage in London.” Nike references the London Olympics runner, Saudi Arabia's Sarah Attar. Bronze medal-winning fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad from New York was the first Muslim American woman to compete for the U.S wearing a hijab at the Olympics. Bahraini sprinter Ruqaya al-Ghasra wore a hijab in the 2004 Olympics in Athens and in Beijing’s 2008 competition. Many on social media have welcome the move by the brand, where others have been critical, stating that there are many smaller brands out there that have broken this ground long before. via NikeExpand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.READ MOREZimmermannKindred spirits and psychedelic florals: Zimmermann heads to 70s Sydney ‘We must find joy’: Pamela Anderson on her starring role at Valentino SS26VanmoofDJ Fuckoff’s guide to living, creating and belonging in BerlinOttolinger SS26 is coming for your girlfriends Casablanca SS26 prayed at the altar of HouseMatthieu Blazy blasts into orbit at his first-ever Chanel showCeline SS26 wants you to wear protection Anatomy of a fashion show: Sandra Hüller opened Miu Miu SS26Jean Paul Gaultier SS26: Inside Duran Lantink’s disruptive debutComme des Garçons SS26 was a revolt against ‘perfect’ fashionIn pictures: Chaos reigned at Vivienne Westwood’s Versailles boudoirHide the spoons! Junya Watanabe is rifling through your cutlery drawer