Nike’s New Swim Collection Debuts Hijab

Nike’s Pro Hijab first became available on the global market in 2017. Catering to female Muslim athletes, the “moisture-wicking head covering,” as described by Fast Company, made sports more accessible to such athletes. Morocco World News reported that sales of the design rose 125% in the first quarter of 2019.

Nike is now releasing a modesty swimsuit for Muslim women. The suit is made up of a hijab, a tunic, and pants. Martha Moore, creative director vice president at Nike, said: “We really love to design products for athletes, [especially] when we see an underutilized part of the market, or when people can’t participate in the area they want to participate in.” She added that they traveled to Southeast Asia and observed.

During their observation, Moore and the team noticed that women in Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern countries “had to swim in women’s only pools, since they had few modest swimwear options that provided full coverage.” While there are wetsuit-style bathing suits that have total coverage, they still do not provide optimal mobility in the water. Moore shared that when they saw people swimming in Australia in full-modesty outfits, the lifeguards said they are concerned about them because of the layers and weight in the water.

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The Victory Swim Collection was launched after Nike realized the lack of performance gear options for watersport athletes “who don’t want to choose between modesty and movement with comfort and confidence,” as reported by Elle.

“Nike knew it wanted a suit that was aesthetically appropriate, but also lightweight and quick drying. So the designers tried to create a full-coverage product, made up of a long-sleeve tunic, with a snug built-in hijab and adjustable sports bra, and high-waisted pants that provided support—and a bit of glamour,” reported Fast Company.

Nike created upward of 40 different samples of the modesty suit as part of the Nike Victory Swim Collection after the research phase. The company also worked with Portland’s Muslim community to “refine the previously released Pro Hijab (which served as a model for the suit) for the best possible fit.”

“I believe this suit will cater to many women who wish to perform water sports without any reservations, as it truly serves the purpose of modesty with a loose fit. Now I can invite more girls into diving and swimming and they can enjoy the sport without concerns,” said Nouf Alosaimi, Saudi Arabia's first technical diver.

The Nike Victory Swim Collection will be available on February 1 on nike.com and at select retailers globally.