Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana has unveiled a line of hijabs and abayas, to be sold and marketed to women in the Middle East.
The collection debuted on Style.com/Arabia on Sunday, and included several patterned and ornate head coverings and robe-like garments that cover the body, known as abayas. Abayas, like hijabs, are worn by some women in parts of the Muslim world.
"For the most part, the collection comes in neutral hues – luxe black and sandy beige – while a sprinkling of abayas capture the Sicilian spirit of the house, with printed daisies, lemons and lush red roses," the website said in a description of the collection.
The abayas and hijabs come in georgette and satin charmeuse fabrics, and include intricate lace details along the hems.
Company co-founder Stefano Gabbana shared some images of the high-end items on his Instagram account under the hashtag #dgabaya.
A photo posted by stefanogabbana (@stefanogabbana) on
Dolce & Gabbana the Abaya collection ❤️❤️❤️❤️ #dgabaya ❤️
A photo posted by stefanogabbana (@stefanogabbana) on
This isn't the first time a fashion brand has marketed items specifically to Muslim women or included women wearing hijabs in their advertisements.
Last year, H&M launched an ad campaign that featured 23-year-old Mariah Idrissi, a Londoner who wears a hijab.
A photo posted by Mariah Idrissi (@mariahidrissi) on
And Japanese clothing company Uniqlo unveiled an entire line of hijabs, "available in a wide range of modern patterns and colours,” last summer.
The collection, which also included clothing made of "lightweight" fabrics and featuring "loose silhouettes," was initially launched in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore.
UNIQLO x Hana Tajima coming to you this 3rd July. #uniqlosg #uniqlolifewear #uniqloxhanatajima
A photo posted by UNIQLO Singapore (@uniqlosg) on
According to a 2014-2015 report produced by Thomson Reuters, Muslim shoppers spent an estimated $266 billion on clothing and footwear in 2013. This number is expected to climb to $484 billion by 2019.
Dolce & Gabbana has several boutiques in the Middle East, including stores in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Dubai, Jordan and Lebanon.
