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The world of modest fashion :A chat with Zainab Irfan

11 Sep 2022

By Nuskiya Nasar It is often assumed that Muslim women have limited opportunities in the field of fashion and styling, due to the belief that their faith requires them to dress modestly. However, recent years have seen a surge of Muslim women breaking through these barriers and creating their own unique styles. These women are proving that you can be fashionable and stylish while still respecting your religious beliefs. Here’s one such woman. Zainab Irfan has always been passionate about what she does and she keeps at it no matter the obstacles society throws at her. In an interview with The Sunday Morning Happinez, Irfan opened up about her experiences and what motivates her to keep going.  Q: Tell us about yourself. A: I’m Zainab and I’m a concept creator, fashion stylist, and content creator; I also direct photoshoots – in other words, I’m a creative. I love coming up with new ideas and making them come to life through my work. I’ve been a fashion stylist for five years, and I’ve pursued this career because it’s my passion. It’s been a crazy roller coaster ride, but it’s been a very successful one. Currently, I work as a freelancer and share my skill sets with several brands. I get to experience the different styles and personalities of each client which is a great opportunity to learn and grow as a professional. Q: How do you manage to combine modesty and fashion easily when both of these are two completely different and sensitive subjects? A: It’s not complicated to mix modesty and fashion. Modesty is all about showing less skin and following your beliefs. To style yourself modestly, you just need to know what basic clothing items are needed to cover the skin, and put together an outfit on top or under. It’s actually quite fun. This combination that I was able to create is one of the main reasons I really pushed myself to become a fashion stylist. I loved creating looks that showed girls how full of personality they can be while dressing modestly. You just need to know your clothes. Q: Working in any industry can be challenging for mental health at times. If you have ever experienced this while working in the fashion industry, how did you cope? A: There are several instances when your mental health will be challenged. In fact, I am working for a very competitive industry that requires all of my creativity and drains a lot of my mental energy. It can be easy to get burned out when you’re constantly expected to perform at your best at a shoot or campaign. Having to hand over lots of edited footage within a tight timeline can add a lot of pressure. Coming up with concepts for clients can also be challenging. However, it’s important to remember that these challenges are what make us better at what we do. I cope with them by taking a break and relaxing for a day or two. I don’t allow work to stress me out. I play one of my favourite TV shows in the background, sit on the bed, and order my favourite food. I’m a homebody, so food and a good TV show are sometimes all I need. Q: When working with a team of creatives, how do you handle constructive criticism? A: I think everyone is allowed to have their opinions towards a certain idea but it’s always important to stick by your opinion and stay strong in what you think is best according to your experience. I’ve always been confident of my skills and abilities. I truly believe that if you’re not confident in yourself, you won’t be able to grow as an individual or get better at the things you’re passionate about. Q: Tell us about one of your most successful moments. A: I’m not going to lie; every successful shoot is one of my successful moments. I don’t have just one that stands out above the rest. I think every achievement counts. Q: Networking is an important part of being a successful fashion stylist. How have you learnt to build your connections within the industry? A: I come alive during a photo shoot because I enjoy making sure the models are happy and my team is satisfied. I generally get along well with whoever is present. I usually get the comment that I’m stuck-up or I come off as quiet, but if I really need to network, I muster up the courage and have a conversation. Most of my connections come from meeting people at photoshoots and working with brands. Over time, I’ve been able to build a strong network of contacts that I can rely on for help and advice. Q: One piece of advice for aspiring ‘modest fashion’ stylists out there? A: If you think you have the skills, don’t hold yourself back. Start experimenting and keep learning. Find your style, be patient, and you’ll get there.


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