As-Salaam Alaikum! When a person is busy, they’re active. So the science of business is the science of the life activity. The life activity, that is dictated by the nature in which we’re created, is that we must utilize what God is giving to us, develop it through knowledge and use that with what God has already put here to become productive; to be producers. ~ The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan
It is reported that Islamic fashion represents $237 billion in retail annually, which is nothing to wink at. Vogue Magazine recently released its Vogue Arabia edition that features modestly dressed women and Muslim culture from that region, which conveys that modesty is not confined nor that it’s to be seen as unattractive. However, this is nothing new to the women in the Nation Of Islam! Sister Carmin Muhammad, Designer and Owner of Al-Nisa Designs says that she plans to take her line to the next level.
With only a little over a month beyond the first annual Islamic Fashion Weekend held in Atlanta (Oct. 13-16), Mrs. Muhammad has her eyes set on introducing her line and the lines of other Designers in Dubai, Allah willing. This event will take place before an International audience of Middle Eastern women at the first ever Eid Celebration fashion showcase to be held as one of the country’s celebrations on the first day of Eid June 25, 2017 in Dubai. This will also be the first time a fashion event has ever been hosted during there three nights of official celebrations that attract millions from around the region. In a recent interview with Hurt2Healing Magazine, the high fashion designer stated, “We decided that we would do this international show in Dubai where we will introduce the women Islamic designers from our country to the women in that region and be able to see the fabulous fashion to purchase, partake in and wear.”
Along with introducing Dubai to the Islamic designers from the United States, Mrs. Muhammad stated that her international Islamic Fashion Week will hopefully one day serve as a platform for e-commerce and business trade. “The second part of that is to bring the two cultures together, because at the end of the day we’re all Muslim and Modest dressed women who love to look beautiful while promoting our faith. We are going to change the way the world sees fashion as it pertains to Islam”, she explained.
Yet, her eyes are not only focused on bringing the Islamic cultures together, she has opened some of the designs from her line to women of various religions and cultures. Al-Nisa Designs will cater to women in politics, entertainment, women who are mothers, and in general who ultimately want to look and feel attractive.
Beginning now through December 6th, Al-Nisa Designs has launched its Winter Flash Sale, where women from all over can place their orders and expect to receive them as soon as late January of 2017. There are approximately 8-10 pieces to select from with various color choices to offer a more custom experience.
Orders can be placed by emailing: orders@thealnisadesigns.com. Mrs. Muhammad believes in giving her customers the best service, therefore, she has a team of Brand Representatives who will be contacting each customer directly, after receiving their email of interest, to complete their orders and to take questions that may arise during the process.
Again, Sister Carmin Muhammad is taking Al-Nisa Designs to the next level, hence, to be of further assistance she and her team of experts will be hosting a live Q/A this coming Thursday, Dec. 1st at 6p (CST), to respond to each question and concern regarding orders. The Dial-in: 319.527.9172, Access Code: 234261. I heard she plans to make a very exciting announcement that you definitely want to be the first to hear!
“I want the world to witness an evolution of cutting edge fashion – the beginning of the purification process that takes place when you decide to be a modestly dressed woman”. – Carmin Muhammad, Designer/Owner of Al-Nisa Designs
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Winter Flash Sale Selection
1. Pleated Pants 2. Mya 3. Nisa 4. Basi 5. Farrah 6. Maryam 7. Mecca 8. Nia
Four additional designs are available for the Winter Flash Sale. Click the images to see the video clips!
Orders can be placed by emailing: orders@thealnisadesigns.com
Ciara Shirt Dress
Walking Jacket
Butler Jacket
Matrix
Ebony S. Muhammad (EM): Please share a little bit about yourself; some of your upbringing and how did it lead you into being a Hip Hop artist?
J Lyric (JL): Peace. I was born and raised in New Orleans, and I had a humble upbringing. I fell in love with music at a young age. My older cousin was in this local group in New Orleans called 39 Posse in the 90’s. I would watch them, and it was motivation for me to one day become a Hip Hop artist. Hip Hop has always been a part of my life, Hip Hop is how you talk, walk, dress.
EM: The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan said during a recent Saviours’ Day address, regarding music and entertainment, “The cultural revolution is on”! He was referring to the awakening of various celebrities who are standing up for truth and speaking out against injustice and how their music is beginning to affect the masses. How do you see yourself as part of this cultural revolution?
JL: I’m a huge supporter of The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and The NOI (Nation Of Islam). Literally every time I listen to one of his speeches I’m inspired to write music. I think as a Hip Hop artist I have a responsibility to myself, my daughter and everyone else who’s listening to speak the truth to them. You have to have a certain kind of spirit and courage to speak truth to power, especially today in Hip Hop. It’s much easier to get rich by making music about degrading women or selling drugs. The road I’m taking is a much tougher road, but I can sleep at night knowing I didn’t sell out.
EM: As a black man, first and foremost, and then as an artist/activist what thoughts do you wake up with and go to sleep with regarding the time we are living in?
JL: It’s a crucial time we are living in. We’re living in a time where if you are a Black man and even a Black woman you could be unarmed and killed on camera, and the cop/cops who committed the murder will not only walk free, but a Go Fund Me account will pop up out of nowhere and he could get rich. So my main thoughts every morning is to make sure I make it home to my daughter safe.
EM: Minister Farrakhan spoke to a room filled with other Hip Hop artists, producers, and those in the field of entertainment that have a great influence in their artistry. He said to them, “As long as you beef you can never sit down like brothers and pool your resources together to do something economically.” He also stated, “This envy that we have is a sickness”. From your position as an artist, how have beefs been used as a tool against us? How has envy played a role in the division among artists? In what ways can both, beefs and envy, be alleviated so that the bigger picture is at the forefront?
JL: Beefing with your own people is wack! Before my “Justice” video even starts I say, “There’s Strength in numbers, our powers is in our unity”. Most of the beefs and petty differences are simply misunderstandings and a lack of communication. Once a person can get in between the two who are beefing and mediate, you’ll have a chance to find common ground and stop the beef before it escalates.
EM: In your recently released single “Justice” you describe the police killings of Black men and women and how we as a people are treated and seen in the eyes of White America. There is a growing number of artists who are also speaking out against this form of genocide and systemic racism. How can music be used as a liberating tool, to dispel fear from among our people and to empower us to take control over our communities?
JL: The more artists wake up, the better it will be for the black community in general. Hip Hop in the beginning was positive. Somewhere along the way it turned negative, but that’s the “cool” thing. The more artists wake up and speak on real issues and against our real enemy the more the youth will take notice and do their own research.
Ebony S. Muhammad (EM): First and foremost, congrats on the launch of your new Islamic fashion line! What is the name of your line, it’s meaning and how did you come into being a fashion designer?
Aneesa Muhammad (AM): Thank you very much! The name of my fashion line is Ase.Èna (pronounced ACE-ENA). It is literally my name spelled backwards.
Aneesa Muhammad
I chose that name, because in whatever I wanted to do with my life I wanted to make sure my name was a part of it. So after I’m gone, people will know that I was here.
How did I become a fashion designer/seamstress? Well I happen to be under 5 feet and under 100 pounds, so finding clothes that fit right or that fit at all were very hard for me. Every person that has actually made something for me did it incorrectly, because they didn’t understand my size. Therefore, I began creating my own clothes that were good for me and made me feel good as a woman, yet, that was still modest.
Soon after, I realized other women had the same struggle I had. Whether they were tall, short, skinny, heavy etc. Every woman I came across was looking for something that made them feel like a woman.
My inspiration for my line came from the movie The Matrix. I was so in love with the character Trinity. I loved everything she wore and how confident she was. That black leather jacket was my favorite! I drooled over the way it flowed, everything about it was the epitome of BOSS to me. A lot of my designs are actually inspired by that look and it’s sharpness.
EM: You are debuting your new line by way of a fashion show this coming January, which is exciting and I’m sure a lot of work. Tell us a little bit about the show, such as the theme. What has the response been like since announcing the show?
AM: Oh my God! I’m super excited for this! It’s my baby.
Well the show is January 21, 2017, starting at 4pm in Plainfield, New Jersey. The theme is “Cards”, hence my logo bring a spades. So everything will be white and black.
I plan to feature a full variety of garments and outfits for men, women, and children in the show. I wanted to break up the pattern of just showing women go down a runway. Men wear clothes too (laughs). So it’ll be sportswear, day-to-day clothes, work clothes, etc. Everything you will see, you will be able to purchase. From the hats to the scarves to the jewelry.
Lastly, the responses have been amazing! I’m very excited about what is to come in the near future and after the show. I’m already making arrangements for my next move.
EM: I see that there will be other designers participating in your show as well. What do each designer bring individually, and what do you anticipate it will be like having everyone under one roof and one runway?
AM: This is part is by far one of the most exciting things about what is taking place.
All of us in one accord under one roof, doing God’s work. The amount of youth in this show is going to be epic.
I wanted the younger generation in The Nation Of Islam to make some noise, because we have so much talent just waiting to be revealed. I would love to be an agent for that. Each designer brings their own personality to the table with their fashion. One designer in particular sales very Diva attire. Another sister sales more laid back day-to-day clothes, and then we have a brother who sales his line of day-to-day wear. So everyone has something amazing to offer The Nation Of Islam and the World.
EM: Just this past Holy Day Of Atonement weekend in Atlanta, the Nation Of Islam hosted its first annual Islamic Fashion Weekend and fashion show. It was streaming live via social media. From the reactions of those around the world, including by men, it seemed to have set a new standard to fashion across the board. How do you see modesty as becoming more desirable to those outside of the Islamic faith? In what ways do you seek to continue that standard of high civilization with your line and upcoming fashion show?
AM: What I noticed the most is women, even in Islam, finding a struggle for balance when it comes to everyday wear. Like what do I wear to work? That’s what I mostly like to be focused on, and I believe that is a major part of my contribution in the modest fashion world. Designing and creating things that the regular woman on the go can put on hassle-free and still look FA-BU-LOUS and most importantly modest.
I believe that women don’t want to feel so pressured into buying the trash in the clothing stores. Where, if you’re not showing your backside, your showing your cleavage. And if you do want to be covered your best bet is to wear a huge knitted sweater from Forever21 or a Nike sweat suit. I have to believe that women want to do better but just don’t have the avenue to do so…… I’m creating an avenue by Gods grace.