Nike’s announcement of first-ever athletic hijab faces backlash on social media

Nike’s sports hijab won't hit the market until 2018

Sportswear giant Nike announced last week that it would be releasing its first-ever athletic hijab. The Nike Pro Hijab has been designed and tested by figure skater Zahra Lari and weightlifter Amna Al Haddad, but it won't hit the market until 2018, reported Teen Vogue.

In the turn of events, many social media users expressed their aversion with Nike’s new product. One Twitter user wrote, “Nike is cashing in on the subjugation, domination and oppression of women. I will never buy another Nike product again.”



Amna confronted the backlash head-on, posting an open letter in support of Nike and its newest endeavour. “From my perspective as a former athlete, who competed in hijab, in the past, the big brands didn’t see the need or market for it as it was not ‘popular’ and it was unheard of to see women train, exercise and compete in hijab. I do realise there is a lot of mixed reactions as to why Nike decided to create such a product now,” Amna wrote.

According to her, more women and professional athletes have recently voiced the need for a sports hijab. “It is a recent phenomenon where more women have expressed a need for it and more professional athletes have fought for rights to compete with a headscarf, and have an equal playing field. We made it big in the news, we couldn't be ignored.”



Amna expressed hope for the future, explaining that the sports hijab will encourage a new generation of athletes to pursue sports professionally. “I support Muslim women with or without hijab, and how they dress is their choice. And with the Nike Sports Hijab, it surely will encourage a new generation of athletes to pursue sports professionally,” she added.

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