HALAL: Identity existence of faith and beauty to the context of Fashion Muslim

Abstract

The objectives of this research were; 1) to study Muslim women's halal dress culture, 2) to study Muslim women's dress culture and religious principles relating to fashion design, and 3) to design Muslim women's fashion that respects current religious beliefs. This development research employed a mixed-method for data collection. The qualitative research was conducted through interviews with a sample population of religious leaders, Muslim scholars, designers, and 400 female Muslim consumers in Bangkok. The collected data on the needs and preferences of Muslim women were analyzed and together with fashion design principles, they determined the guidelines and theories for designing Muslim women's fashion.

The findings revealed that 1) Muslim women's halal dress culture is following religious principles and is regarded as a valuable aspect of beauty and virtue, and according to religious principles, the charm of concealment helps prevent harm, 2) Muslim women's current lifestyle culture focuses on simple dress styles which must be adaptable to several occasions. The shape of the dress must be loose without emphasizing body proportions, the design must be contemporary, the color scheme must either be the same tone for the entire dress or of non-contrasting colors, and must be adorned by signs of Muslim art and culture, and 3) the design of Muslim women's fashion which conforms to current religious beliefs resulted in the creation of shirts, pants, skirts, and dresses. The designs considered daily activities such as the type of work and the use of public transportation. It can be concluded that Muslim women’s fashion designs respecting current religious beliefs can be perceived as beautiful and its concealing nature ensures a woman's safety. The Research discovered new knowledge of halal factors which designers can apply to design Muslim wear for others.

From the study findings, there is room for further Research, because the Research’s sample population consisting of a specific age group provided only their consumer behavior. Additionally, the result from studying Muslim adornments indicated that documenting this traditional knowledge could preserve this valuable resource for contemporary applications. Furthermore, future comparative Research should be conducted in other regions in Thailand to compare factors influencing changes in Muslim women's dress styles across various geographical areas.