- Title: RUSSIA-MUSLIM LIFESTYLE Muslims in Moscow enter fashion world
- Date: 12th October 2015
- Summary: VARIOUS OF PICTURES ON SCREEN
- Embargoed: 27th October 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA3Y1C2UWQ5EWOZGC3C8ZWCQYA8
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Russian capital, famous for the shiny domes and cupolas of its cathedrals, adds Muslim notes to its Orthodox image.
Halal restaurants open here and there, filling the air with the smell of ethnic food.
Moscow's Grand Mosque was reopened after ten years of large-scale renovation, which added two 78-metre height minarets and enlarged the facility to host around 10,000 worshippers at the same time.
Its main golden dome and tall minaret reflected the style of many Orthodox churches, except for the Islamic crescents atop them.
The opening ceremony was attended by Russian leader Vladimir Putin as well as Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.
Islam is the second largest religion in Russia after Orthodox Christianity, making up around 15 percent of the population, however a girl wearing a headscarf is still not an ordinary occurrence in Moscow.
Some of the Muslims see the problem not in conservatism, but rather in the market.
Aleksandra Golovkova, a Muslim blogger who lives in Moscow, said she tried to find beautiful but modest clothes, appropriate in her faith, but without success.
She took the initiative in her own hands and started a line of everyday Muslim clothing. She needs it to feel protected, Alexandra said.
"I think it is not about being unusual, it is about how I feel being covered up by my clothes. I feel calmer, more comfortable, cosy, as if there is a screen protecting me from the external world. I feel way more comfortable this way," the young designer said, as she debuted as a model at a photo session promoting her fashion line.
Her undertakings, as many others is supported by Wandi Group, a company that promotes and develops various projects in the field of beauty and fashion.
Wandi Group founder, Natalia Bodylevich, said her attempts to promote Muslim lifestyle are successful.
"In the past three years the results of warming in the attitude of people (Muslims and non-Muslims) towards each other have become obvious, and (there is) a more acceptable perception of so-called Muslim lifestyle. When we came to the market the industry was not at such high level, now we organise markets in the very centre of Moscow, we open beauty saloons for Muslim women, that of course can be attended by not only Muslims, but it is specific as there are no men here, that a girl can take off her scarf and for instance take care of her hair," she said, standing in the midst of the beauty saloon that Wandi Group supports.
Another project, affiliated with Wandi Group, is Irada boutique that opened in 2010 in the very heart of the Russian capital.
Margarita lyanova, who works there as an assistant, said Irada dresses have no religious limitations.
"Many people already like Irada in Moscow. There are many lay people who never wear scarfs, but they all wear dresses from Irada (boutique), if someone needs a long dress for an event, and it is good as an elegant office dress," she said.
Customers wander among rows of colourful dresses and choose tissue types in the catalogues. One of them, Lilian, said she Islam was new to her in terms of religion and lifestyle.
"I am a beginner Muslim, so I decided to change clothes in my wardrobe to more closed dresses. I came here intentionally, because I read about this trademark that they make beautiful designer, good quality clothing for Muslims and even for those who have not decided to cover up entirely but who want to dress beautifully and virtuously," Lilian said smiling. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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