Major art museums have realized there is much to learn from clothing that is both religiously coded and fashion forward.
In 2018, the Metropolitan Museum of Art hosted a fashion exhibition inspired by the Catholic faith titled “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and Catholic Imagination.” With more than 1.6 million visitors, it was the most popular exhibit in the Met’s history.
That same year the de Young Museum of San Francisco had the first major exhibit devoted to the Islamic fashion scene. “Contemporary Muslim Fashions” displayed 80 swoon-worthy ensembles – glamorous gowns, edgy streetwear, conceptual couture – loosely organized by region and emphasizing distinct textile traditions. This exhibit wa a bold statement of cultural appreciation during a time of heightened anti-Muslim rhetoric
