MALIKAH FESTIVAL 2017 returned to celebrate all Redmond families and entertain a mixed-gender audience. This free event featured a show of Spring/Summer lines of abayas, kaftans, jilbabs and tunics- fresh from fashion houses in Istanbul, Dubai, and the Northwest!
Malikah means "queen" in Arabic. Our event included women of every faith, shape, age, and people representing the many native-born and New Americans cultures found in Redmond and the Puget Sound area.
MALIKAH FESTIVAL had two goals. One was to bring the elegance and nuance of modest fashion out of mosques and private homes, and into a public venue. The other was to shatter simplistic stereotypes about families who practice modesty as a form of dress and lifestyle choice, using arts and culture as a vehicle to bring citizens together. From a business development perspective, modest fashion, (which includes many conservative Christians and Jewish sects), is an exploding global and national market.
See MALIKAH FESTIVAL 2016 here.
models & producers
Producers Chema On, (center, pink hijab), and Lee Mozena (center, brown hair) with models
MALIKAH FESTIVAL 2017 built on the inaugural event in 2016, which was co-produced by Lee Mozena, founder and owner of Zena Consulting, and Chema Jamel Oh, of Boutique Al Firdaws. Our media partner was Sara Jamshidi, of Goltune News.
Lee Mozena has produced and funded similar cross-cultural projects part of her communications business. Hosted again by a grant from the City of Redmond's Parks Department, MALIKAH FESTIVAL 2017 provided opportunities for the general public to meet local artists and merchants who may not be as visible in mainstream culture and retail spaces. This year's activities included:
Spring collections of global designers, curated by Chema Jamel Oh, of Boutique Al Firdaws
Eid Bazaar with globally-inspired clothing, accessories and home decor
Fashion Diplomacy' Q & A, led by Sara Jamshidi, founding editor of Goltune News
Nia Dance performance by Pauline Osbourne, Owner of Moving To Heal, in Redmond
Mendi (henna) and make-up artists on site
Moroccan (halal) BBQ , plus coffee, tea and snacks
FEATURED DESIGNERS
We gathered the work of these local and global artists:
Chema Jamel Oh, from Tunisia, and a resident of Redmond
Indriya Dani , from Indonesia
Jenny Tiahywati, from Indonesia
Sahar Al Matarod, from Saudi Arabia
sponsors & partners
Chema. Sara and Lee, (left to right)
COMMUNITY SPONSORS included MAPS, (Muslim Association of Puget Sound), and Y-WE. Redmond City Council woman Angela Birney, gave opening remarks. BUSINESS SPONSORS included Zena Consulting, Boutique Al Firdaws, and the Eileen Fisher Foundation. PRESS coverage from this event included Seattle Met , Real Change News, Goltune News, Seattle Globalist, and a video by Ashley Amon. KUOW- provided free PSA's to advertise the Festival.
THANKS TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS who helped make this event possible.