CHICAGO—Carmen Muhammad, owner of Al-Nisa Designs and Women Working Together Inc., will host the 2nd Annual International Arts Award Gala & first U.S. Modest Fashion Week Event at the Lakeview Terrace Navy Pier Convention Center and Contemporary Arts Museum, June 30-July 3.
The highly anticipated event promises to be an exciting two days of live and virtual catwalks plus four days of presentations and events, including a 3K Unity Peace Walk and a Purple Carpet Modest Arts Awards & Modest Metropolitan Gala—complete with entertainment, and a VIP Reception. The theme of the entire weekend is: “Fashion is An Ambassador to World Peace.” Diversity and inclusion will be on parade, along with 25 international designers and models to match.
“The mission is simple—to remove the perception that modest fashion is boring and a religious-based style of dress,” said Ms. Muhammad. “We want to create a new narrative and a new way of thinking when it comes to modest dress. My motto is: A New Dress, A New Mind, A New Women,” she said.
“Normally Modest Fashion Weeks have become somewhat of a sideshow to a mainstream Fashion Week event, but this is historical because it is the only time that modest fashion has ever been at center stage,” she said. “It will allow inclusion and diversity, because the designers that are presenting are usually not a part of international modest fashion week events,” added Ms. Muhammad.
For the past four years Carmen Muhammad has appeared at major mainstream fashion week shows, blazing the runway with her cutting-edge designs and establishing relationships with high-profile fashion week founders and designers from around the world. International VIPs, fashionistas, buyers and global media will all converge in the city to be a part of this historical milestone event.
Come and meet the new faces of emerging designers from around the world. Among that group of 25 designers showcasing both live and virtual, will be Maki Mandela, daughter of the late Nelson Mandela, featuring the “House of Mandela’s ‘Struggle Series’ StreetWear Collection;” Lina Dweik, Memphis-based designer from Palestine;
Princess Jehanne Masorong Mangondato-Dimaporo, Philippine’s first hijab stylist brand; Yonasda Lonewolf, one-half of the Native American and African American women-owned brand (Kayla) Lookinghorse & Lonewolf; Niloofar Avesta from Iran, Burkina Faso from Africa and many more. The event is rooted in culture and tradition to create visibility and amplify voices collectively.
The Crowing event of the weekend is the Modest Arts Awards Met Gala which will pay homage to the trailblazers who have paved the way for emerging designers of all ethnicities and backgrounds. The list of honorees includes: Maki Mandela “House of Mandela,” Lexy Mojo Eyes Founder of Legendary Gold TV/The African Reception and e-Commerce online portal “Agogo,” Mother Khadijah Farrakhan, “Designer & Fashionista;” Zubair Mughal, Al Huda Centre of Modest Fashion and Islamic Banking and Uzo Udemba, chairman of the Udemba Group and Smart City Lagos.
Visit www.chicagomfw.com for tickets and a preview of some of the hidden talent to be showcased during the special weekend.
Designs by Carmen Muhammad
Photo: Yavonka Muhammad/Master Focus Media
