Samar Munir for Under Armour. Photo: Courtesy of Under Armour
Designed in conjunction with Muslim athletes around the world, American retailer Under Armour has just released its first sports hijab. Spearheaded by personal trainer and Under Armour athlete Saman Munir, the campaign is aimed at hijab-wearing sportswomen and was announced on Twitter late last week. In a post referring to the release, Under Armour’s chief executive Patrik Frisk wrote, “Every athlete should have the gear she needs to be the best.” Alongside photos of the Canadian based influencer-athlete, he continued, “The Under Armour Sport Hijab was developed with the help of Hijabi athletes from around the world including Saman Munir.”
Created using specially constructed mesh fabric, the hijab’s hex-shaped pattern aims to wick away at moisture, thus offering optimum breathability and functionality. Cut extra-long, the headpiece will not ride up or come untucked during workouts; an otherwise significant concern for hijab-wearing athletes. Offering the perfect fit through its use of four-way stretch fabric, the hijab also comprises easy headphone access and a logo that is fully reflective.
Further elaborating on the functionality and performance of the hijab’s design, senior designer at Under Armour, Jennifer Smith said, “Our team worked diligently to launch a quality sport hijab that [would] meet the performance needs of its user and ensure all female athletes are covered from head to toe no matter their size, level of performance or religion.”
Every athlete should have the gear she needs to be the best.
The Under Armour Sport Hijab was developed with the help of Hijabi athletes from around the world including Saman Munir (@makeuphijabs): https://t.co/lwsKPDoCCL pic.twitter.com/eOaYJGQ1iu— Patrik Frisk (@PatrikFrisk) August 17, 2020
With over 160-thousand followers on Instagram, Munir has established herself firmly as an influencer in the fitness and beauty domain. Having gained notoriety for her social media make-up tutorials over the last decade, she has recently pivoted to incorporate content relating to health and fitness; posting videos of her workouts and routines, all of which are accompanied by a hijab. A qualified personal trainer and the mother of three, Munir is the first hijabi athlete to be sponsored by Under Armour.
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