24 November 2008

Hijab And Swimsuit: Love it or Shove it?

I was all for the idea when I heard about it but now I think I'd rather find an all female pool and wear a 'normal' costume or give the whole thing a miss and I love swimming! It's not that I think they are immodest at all but they just look a bit to much to swim in comfortably.. although I haven't actually tried on one of these halal swimming costume so my opinion is hardly valid :I

Starting with Primo Modo and its selection:

OK, so they don't look too bad but the price (cheapest $85) is really unreasonable for what it is but I have to say my fave is the pink one up top :D

Next up the 'Burqini' which I'm sure most of you will have heard of from Ahiida. This site offers a selection of fits ranging from 'active fit' all the way to 'modest fit'

Modest Fit:

Slim Fit:
Active Fit:Well I'm still not sure about the whole thing to be honest, I think I'll shove it for now even though I can see why it would be useful to Muslimahs and it is a great invention ^-^ But what about you?

19 comments:

Inspired Muslimah said...

I say shove it, I would just not swim or swim at a all womens pool. I dont really like them, just being honest.:D

Ange said...

some of them still look a little bit weird to me.

Mona Zenhom said...

Same here, Shove it. I'd rather go in the (non crowded) sea with a galabaya and get out into a big towel.

Anonymous said...

dont knock it till you try it, I have a splashgear one (www.splashgearusa.com) and it is dead easy to swim in, i did nit feel weighed down and even particpated in an aqua aerobics class.

I have a review on my experience on my blog (I have an Islamic swimsuit) if anyone cares to read it.

washi said...

I only get into the pool at my sister's home (in a normal costume) if there's no-one but close family there...for instance if there's male cousins, etc then I won't bother

Hijabee said...

It kinda looks weird so I don't know if I would try it

Unknown said...

Sallam,

I love Ahiida's burqini. Really, it was invented by a convert Muslimah who didn't feel she had to give up lifeguarding. I was a lifeguard, raced swimming and played waterpolo. I LOVE the hijabi swimsuit styles even if I find some a bit ugly.
Splash gear and Prima Modo have comfy suits which don't drag. I wish I could afford a burqini.. it's my favorite. They have a cute pink and blue one that I love.

Nawal said...

I have one in the brown body suit with a floral dark green, black, and brown cover and I went to 24 hour fitness with my husband. I just wore a regular al amirah hijab since i dont like the alien head look with the one it came with but there was only one older woman swimming and she actually looked curious as to where she could get one, but maybe because she was overweight and some like the coverage. None of the men that came our even seemed curious and I just swam with my hubby. Had a good time and didnt worry about anything showing.

Anonymous said...

you can find them sometimes cheaper on Ebay... around $40-56 USD

Anonymous said...

I have one similar to the first primo moda one. It is very comfortable to swim laps in at my local YMCA. There are NO all female pools here in KS, USA. Yeah it looks a little wierd, but aren't most of used to the looks by now?

Anonymous said...

I have an islamic bathing suit and used it all summer in Egypt. They are wonderful, very lite and one does not overheated or get weighed down by the material in the water. If I thought I had a market here in the US I would buy more when I go to Egypt and sell them almost at cost to other Muslimah's here in the US. In Egypt they run about 15 USD compared to the expensive price most stores charge here in the US.

No More exuses girls. If you want to swim and be modest this is the best way to go.

Honestly if I didn't wear hijab...I would still wear one of these because I don't want perves or judgemental people looking at my body.

Anonymous said...

I have an islamic bathing suit and used it all summer in Egypt. They are wonderful, very lite and one does not overheated or get weighed down by the material in the water. If I thought I had a market here in the US I would buy more when I go to Egypt and sell them almost at cost to other Muslimah's here in the US. In Egypt they run about 15 USD compared to the expensive price most stores charge here in the US.

No More exuses girls. If you want to swim and be modest this is the best way to go.

Honestly if I didn't wear hijab...I would still wear one of these because I don't want perves or judgemental people looking at my body.

Rere said...

Its really expensive in my country :'(

And there's no all women swimming pool near by. Well, I guess I won't be able to swim in a long period of time. Maybe till I can afford to build my own swimming pool. Lol.

Anonymous said...

Hey,

I like these. Wish they were a bit shorter on the leg. Recently I went to my apartment copmplex pool wearing shorts and a t-shirt over my swimsuit and was asked to take it off. I was really upset about it, but I think it would be better If I could find something more of a swimsuit material. I'm not islamic, however I prefer to cover up. For one I do not like being looked at and two, I think that dressing in such a way to invite attention also invites problems. Sorry for the novel:P

Suzanne said...

ASA!

I used to worry about being a freak show to wear an Islamic swimsuit. But I got over that. It's not me that has the problem, it's the other people. If they don't like diversity, then they should go back to where they came from lol. (joking!)

Anyhow, I wanted to buy one, but they're kinda spendy. First I saw ahiida, and nearly had a stroke (they were all over $150 + s&h). I saw splashgear and bodykini and neither of those were my cup of tea. Splashgear is ok, but it doesn't look too comfortable, and I thought the hood was kinda wierd on the bodykini. I saw an ad on facebook one day for www.alsharifa.com Their prices are ok, and they had a 10% off code (FACEBOOK10 not sure when it expires). They also shipped it to me with free priority shipping.

The suits are not flashy either, like some of the other super bright colors and designs. (Meaning you won't get negative attention).

I was a little bit self conscious the first time I went swimming in it, but after that, I was so happy to get to go swimming I really couldn't care less.

If you want to go swimming, go for it!

Unknown said...

i like this .. keep it up sis =)

Ellen Keim said...

I can't imagine wearing one of these, but neither can I imagine swimming in a regular swimming suit now that I've become a Muslim. So, I don't know, maybe I'll try one someday. Thanks for the post!

miska said...

i would say no choice if u live in western country and want to swim im convert and i decided to prove that being muslim doesnt meant be dead or be a prison of the house. i do all activites with my kids, play tennis, ride horse and swim. but unfortunatelly in western word there is no close clubs only for woman. so yes i won 2 islamic swimming suit and i love it coz its only way for me to get to the pool.

Fatima said...

I wear a Ahiida modest fit plus burqini, I'm a very big girl and pear shaped, it fits me well everywhere except my hips were it is very tight. At my pool they only have ladies swimming once a week and I already go to a ladies gym 3 times a week so it has been great to be able to get to the pool more, I now go 3 to 4 times a week. It is a lot better than the swim dress I used to wear with a lycra al amirah hijab, I much prefer my burqini! My husband and I are going to start going to the beach more too! It is nice to have the hijab attached to the suit when swimming or doing a water aerobics class, even if you wear a lycra al amirah hijab over the top to prevent the allien head look mentioned above lol.