Description

The Burqini™/Burkini™ is a modest swimsuit designed by fashion designer Aheda Zanetti to promote Muslim women’s participation in public sports. She found that at the time, there did not exist a swimsuit that adhered to Islamic guidelines, and many Muslim women were using unsatisfactory alternatives.

The Burqini™/Burkini™ is a two-piece swimsuit that provides full coverage in accordance with Islamic guidelines. The Burqini™/Burkini™ consists of a long-sleeved, hooded tunic reaching mid-thigh that is attached to straight-legged pants through a loop-and-string mechanism that ensures the tunic does not rise in the water. A hood is attached to the tunic to conceal the wearer’s hair. The Burqini™/Burkini™ comes in three styles: modest fit, slim fit, and sportz fit. Modest fit provides the loosest fit of the garment, while the sportz fit is designed to optimize athletic performance.

The name “Burqini™/Burkini™” is a combination of bikini, a two-piece swimsuit, and burqa/burka, a style of full-coverage veil worn by some Muslim women. While the trademark of the word “Burqini™/Burkini™” is owned by Zanetti, it has become a generic term to refer to this style of modest swimwear that adheres to guidelines of Islamic dress practices. Since the inception of the Burqini™/Burkini™, many other brands have created their own version of the modest swimsuit.

The creation of the Burqini™/Burkini™ has encouraged the involvement of visibly Muslim women in sports and has also become the center of political controversy surrounding topics of multiculturalism and immigration.