Muslimah Fashion A Channel To Preach Islam, Says Abaya Designer

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 (Bernama) -- Preaching Islam through fashion has always been the objective for modern abaya designer Shahariah Sabarudin, despite being a newcomer in the Muslim fashion industry in Malaysia. Prior to this, Shahariah, 60, was in jewellery, a business she had been involved in for 24 years, before setting her foot in the Muslim fashion industry. Thursday, she held her first abaya fashion show and it was opened by the Deputy Prime Minister's wife, Noorainee Abd Rahman. The fashion show, held to raise funds, as well as to promote Muslim women's wear, was also attended by several local artistes, including Mizz Nina, who now wears the hijab. Shahariah said 30 of her abaya collections were on show and they were sold for between US$872 (RM2,900) and US$1,505 (RM5,000). She said 15 per cent of the sale made from the show would be channeled to the Al-Ikhlas Old Folks Home in Kampung Pulau Meranti, Puchong, which was now home to 65 Muslim senior citizens. "Normally in business, the priority is making money, but in this fashion business, it is based on Islam and for charity," she added. She said part of the collection from table sale, amounting to about US$7,524 (RM25,000), would also be channeled to the old folks home. -- BERNAMA