Khimar

Khimar

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Khimar in Modest Fashion:

Women wear the Khimar, alluding to a modest way of dressing. It is a style of clothes under a broader umbrella of modest fashion within the Islamic world. Here, we look at a modest garment, the Khimar, its history and the evolution of its use in contemporary design, and how it coordinates easily with other garments of modest fashion, the hijab and abaya.

What does the word Khimar mean, and how is It Different from Other Head Garments?
In the Islamic version of English, Khimar (خِمار) is to means ‘veil’ and also refers to other neck garments that women wear to cover their neck and shoulders. The headpiece of the Khimar, true to the Islamic ways of dressing modestly, shelters the head and neck with the piece and also the shoulders with the fabric. This headpiece is to display the importance of the head covering in the Islamic religion to all other fashion religions. This head covering piece shows the history and years of the Khimar being used in all elements of Islamic modes of dress with kids.

A khimar is often mistaken for different styles of modest attire, such as a hijab or niqab, but its design and function are different. While some may see a hijab as a form of modest dress, a khimar is a specific head covering that may or may not come as part of an accompanying outfit.

A Brief History of the Khimar
Covering one’s body and head for the sake of modesty is certainly not an Islamic concept. It has been around for a long time in all sorts of different cultures and societies. The word Khimar, however, specifically comes from an Arabic root word, khamara, which means “to cover” or “to obscure.” The Khimar was part of the traditions of women in the Arabian Peninsula long before the advent of Islam, and was just a piece of clothing that covered the head and shoulders. The significance of external clothing, however, changed in the Islamic era.

Khimars are specifically mentioned in the Quran in Surah An-Nur (24:31), considered the Quranic instruction to women to “draw (dhib) upon their khimars (head coverings) veils (khimar) over their chest.” This commanding verse formed the principal religious command over women’s clothing in Islam. It was instituted as a permanent practice that women not only cover their bodies but also include the shoulders, and for some, the entire upper body, including the head and face. Khimars are one of the essentials, a customary piece of clothing, and have been for a long time a highly recognized item of clothing for women in the Islamic world in the southern and eastern Mediterranean, North Africa, and even today.

Khimar Fabrics:

The location, season, and event determine the type of material used for a khimar. The types of materials used include the following:

  • Cotton:
    When examining a collection of materials, we will first analyze the cotton fabric, which many find most adequate and versatile to use in different climates and seasons. Cotton is certainly the most appropriate fabric to use in the warmer summer temperatures due to its breathable nature of the fabric.
  • Silk:
    For some high-profile functions, their kimonos are made of silk, as for quite a number of high-profile functions, it is a fabric of choice because silk is high-end, luxurious, husky, and glossy, with a shiny, smooth finish.
  • Chiffon:
    This fabric gives a heavy elegance due to the pleats and features are drape. It’s transparent and is great for adding the final touches to a kimono. It’s an elegant fabric made great for floors in various designs to finish with a drape easement.
  • Georgette:
    This fabric is often used to make contemporary-style khimars by adding structure to the designs. This fabric has a slightly crinkled finish and adds some volume and texture to the Khimar.
  • Jersey:
    This fabric is used for everyday khimars and is preferred by practical, busy, and modest women. Jersey is a comfortable fabric known for its stretch.

Types of Khimar Styles:

Khimars are worn around the world for many cultural events. Here are some of the most common styles of Khimar to wear:

  • Classic Khimar
    For everyday use, the classic Khimar is a versatile option. It is a lightweight, easy to put on, large piece of fabric thats tied under the chin.
  • Khimar with a Draped Design
    For the advanced draped Khimar, the material is arranged to fall nicely down the back. It is great for more formal occasions like evening events because of how elegant the draped fall appears.

  • Khimar with a Neckline
    The chest area of some khimars is completed with a neckline fabric. This is for more modest looks. It also comes with adjustments for the neckline to make more or less of the chest visible, which is a great option for versatile styling.

Khimar's Versatility:

Like the other pieces in the modular capsule wardrobe, the Khimar demonstrates how far this type of fashion has come. Khimars are no longer associated with only the covering of the body, but also the artistry and high levels of creativity an individual possesses. Khimars now provide women with the means to express their innermost thoughts and feelings.

In devotion to self, in many Islamic societies, the Khimar is worn as a sign of self-respect. It depicts religious and cultural observance. The modest Khimar has increased in demand in the modest fashion industry and is now a common design in many collections.

Khimar Hijab:

Muslim women conceal their body and its shape as its a part of feminine nature and its a part of Islam. This allows them to disguise their body shape and is more spiritually and culturally modest. They also wear hijabs, which are a type of scarf that covers one’s hair and neck. There is also a custom that consists of wearing a cape (Khimar) that covers the hair and neck (along with the chest, while leaving the face open), and that is known as the khimar hijab.

Pairing other types of modest clothing to create a complete outfit allows for a modern look to be created with a khimar hijab. It is a professional fit for any workplace. Another outfit of this style includes one made of cotton khimar hijab, and a flowing tunic with leggings that is perfect for a casual look while remaining fashionable and is easy to wear for any ordinary day, and the perfect effortless fit.

Khimar Abayas:

A khimar is an outer garment worn in many Muslim-majority countries that is an abaya-length style and also covers the whole body except for the face, hands, and feet. Because of the combination of styles, they can wear the abaya in a trendy way, and also keep their traditional values while being fashionable, Michigan-style.

The abaya is a symbol of the province and has also been worn in the Middle East and North Africa for a very long time in history. The combination of styles came from the 1900s to bring a modern twist on traditional styles. Because of this, the Khimar Abaya has been worn in many countries around the world, from the Middle East to countries in Southeast Asia.

The versatility of khimar abayas is one of its best characteristics. It can easily be worn for either formal or casual events. For formals, one can wear the khimar abaya in black silk with some matching heels for an elegant evening look, and then add a statement clutch. For one of the casual options, one may slip on some loose-fitting cotton khimar abaya along with flat sandals and a simple scarf for a day look. The beauty in the khimar abaya is blending the traditional wear with contemporary to create something both modern and timeless.

Conclusion:

Khimar means ‘to cover’ in Arabic, and is representative of Islam and modest fashion. It is a representation of self-expression and is worn over, or in tandem with, items like the hijab or abaya. It is used to modernize fashion and is still culturally and religiously valuable.

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