BURQINI OR Burkini

A Burquini story

Aheda Zanetti – Inventor of the Burkini

Aheda and her family moved to Sydney from Lebanon when she was two years old.

Like many Muslim women in the west, Aheda wanted to adhere to Islamic clothing norms while also keeping up with Western fashion – especially when it came to activewear and modest swimwear. It was after watching her niece struggle to play netball with her sporting uniform on top of her religious clothing that an idea came to Aheda. She was going to create a garment that combined Islamic modesty with Australian beach and sporting culture.

The burqini was born

After many months perfecting her designs, Aheda unveiled the hijood and the burkini. Both garments, the hijood for sportswear and the burkini for swimwear, allowed Muslim girls to participate in activities at a level they may not have previously been able to.

The burkini has found an audience beyond the Muslim community, and while some people have controversial opinions about the burkini, it can’t be denied that it has given many girls and women access to sports and experiences they would have otherwise avoided due to health, religious or body image concerns.