Times are changing. Once, Muslim women did not enter into the water for the pleasure of it. They did not see it as part of an enjoyable and healthy activity. Today, women of all ages are active participants in water sports. Yet, to retain faithful to their religious beliefs, they must somehow dress modestly. The result has been the creation of a line of Islamic swimwear for women.
Why the Change?
Women lead a more active life than in the past. More and more women want to do more than sit at the beach. They want to participate. This includes swimming. This has not been possible in the past. Religious clothing strictures forbid women from revealing more flesh than is necessary or practical. Islamic swimwear for women did not provide any freedom of movement in the simple pleasure of wading let alone playing sports in the water. This is particularly true of one option for women – the Burqa,’
The Burqa: Traditional Islamic Swimwear for Women
A Bura is the traditional form of swimwear for women. It covers the body of a woman from her head to her ankles. This does uphold the need to be modest in dress. However, it is impractical for anyone serious about engaging in water sports or other water-based activities. This is the result of two things:
- The volume of material – when soaking wet, it is capable of causing severe safety issues for anyone swimming let alone diving or being actively engaged in the water
- Type of material – traditional material for this type of Islamic swimwear or bathing suits for women leans toward natural fibers, including wool. Once the fabric becomes saturated, it becomes heavy. This, like the volume of the material, can result in a swimmer drowning
Designers decided to see if they could arrive at a feasible solution. They came up with the Burqini.
Burqini
This is a modern or contemporary approach to Islamic swimwear for women. It has several advantages over the traditional burqa. A burqini is characterized by the following:
- Lightweight material – newer fabrics have replaced the traditional ones. This makes them lighter. Many of the materials used are UV and chlorine resistant as well
- Two or three pieces that still cover the body sufficiently to maintain a woman’s modesty
- Greater freedom when worn in water
- Suitable for activity in water
- Stylish in comparison to the burqa
For those women who want to get into the swim of things, while retaining their Muslim belief in modesty, two options are currently available. These are the burqa and the burqini. The former is a traditional example of Islamic swimwear for women. The latter represents the contemporary look for women who want to become involved in all aspects of life while adhering to their religious beliefs. The choice is yours to make.
