Sisters Hani and Ugbad Abdi in their first shoot together. Vogue Arabia, April 2022. Photo: Luigi and Iango
I’m still blown away by the fantastic feedback on our 5th anniversary issue. This festive edition resonated with readers around the globe, especially with so many Arab women who are proud to be represented on a global scale as the modern leaders and businesswomen they are. Within the first 30 minutes that we revealed the first cover on Instagram, it was shared by more than 5,000 users.
However, in fashion’s best style, what is done, is done. And it’s now time to dive deep into April, a special time when we celebrate the arrival of the Holy Month. This inspired us to build this issue around the values of family and connection, but also the ever growing importance of modest fashion. As I wrote in last month’s editor’s letter, I still struggle to understand the western obsession with modesty, and why people who don’t fully understand these codes think that they have the knowledge – and sometimes the mission – to liberate women from modesty.
Of course, all generalizations are dangerous, but I can guarantee that most Arab women who have adopted modesty don’t need to be saved by anyone. In a story penned by Hafsa Lodi, we also observe how the codes of modesty have evolved over the last couple of years, mostly depending on new cultural and economical nuances. The complexity of this topic proves once again that clothes and fashion are much more than just what we wear.
On the topic of family, hijabi supermodel Ugbad Abdi returns to our cover. This time, she is joined by her younger sister Hani, who is in front of the camera for the first time. In the interview conducted by Janelle Okwodu, the siblings share their remarkable life journey, from fleeing the civil war in Somalia and living in a refugee camp in Kenya for nearly a decade, to a dream life (but one of challenges and hard work) in the US.
Another power duo, Arabia’s favorite international couturier Stéphane Rolland and his forever muse, the Spanish supermodel Nieves Álvarez, were photographed in Paris. Rolland has been visiting the Middle East for decades, and recently designed the wedding dress of HRH Princess Hussa bint Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the only daughter of King Salman. The idea to feature the couturier in this issue manifested after I watched his latest show in Paris and witnessed the incredible reactions from our followers on social media – his was the most liked and commented couture show of the season. It was powerful, artistic, and touching, and reminded me why I fell in love with fashion in the first place.
Originally published in the April 2022 issue of Vogue Arabia
