The Complete Guide to Haute Hijab – Expert Review on Quality, Style and Brand Reputation

Origins of Haute Hijab

Haute Hijab was founded in 2010 by Melanie Elturk, a fashion enthusiast from Detroit, Michigan. As a young Muslim woman, Melanie struggled to find stylish and comfortable hijabs that made her feel confident in her hometown. After one too many disappointing shopping trips, Melanie decided to take matters into her own hands.

She partnered with co-founder Ahmed Zedan to launch Haute Hijab, with the mission to empower hijab-wearing women and make sure they never feel held back by their wardrobe. The name itself embodies their goal – "Haute" meaning high-fashion in French while Hijab refers to the traditional Islamic headscarf.

The founders started off small – sourcing vintage scarves and turning them into modern hijabs catered to young Muslim women. As their customer base grew, so did their operations – expanding into producing their own prints and fabrics sustainably using deadstock materials.

Over the last 12 years, Haute Hijab has established itself as a leading voice in ethical and empowering fashion for modern Muslim women. The brand and its founder Melanie have been featured in top magazines like Marie Claire and Forbes for their contributions. Today, Haute Hijab offers a thriving online store with over 30 hijab styles and colors to suit any woman‘s personal style.

Inside Haute Hijab‘s Manufacturing and Sourcing Process

Staying true to their sustainable roots, Haute Hijab utilizes recycled and deadstock fabrics for a majority of their collections. Working with warehouses, they rescue high-quality materials that would otherwise go to waste and give them new life as stylish hijabs. This environmentally-conscious approach sets them apart from fast fashion brands.

Their production takes place in factories that the founders have personally vetted for fair labor conditions. Haute Hijab also prioritizes working with minority-owned businesses within the US for their embroidered pieces.

While recycled fabrics make up much of their catalog, they also use quality materials like jersey that is sustainably sourced from Turkey. Their next step is looking into using organic cottons and implementing a take-back program to ensure the full lifecycle sustainability of their products.

Haute Hijab Bestsellers Review

Everyday Jersey Hijabs

The Haute Hijab Everyday Jersey line is beloved for its comfort and versatility as an everyday staple. Made from a medium-weight, breathable jersey with 4-way stretch, it delivers lasting softness and shape retention. The fabric feels gentle against the skin and won‘t cause friction or pull hair.

I especially love the on-trend colors and unique designs offered each season. From tropical prints to tie-dye to classic solids, there‘s something flattering for every hijab wearer. They have a more athletic appearance compared to satin hijabs, making them ideal for school, commuting or casual wear.

These jersey hijabs can be styled as a traditional two-piece head wrap or worn as a turban. I recommend them for beginners as they are easy to drape into place. Simply use a few pins to keep it secure. At $20 for a high quality hijab that will last you seasons to come, the value offered by Haute Hijab is unmatched.

Satin Date Night Hijabs

For formal occasions, black-tie events or romantic date nights, Haute Hijab‘s satin hijabs are a must-have. The luxurious satin fabric offers an elegant draping effect that is perfect for making an entrance. The subtle sheen against the light creates a glamorous look.

These hijabs have a thicker, more structured feel compared to everyday chiffons or jerseys. So they hold their shape beautifully after styling without appearing crumpled.

Haute Hijab‘s satin range features rich jewel tones and metallic hues like regal purple, midnight blue and gilded champagne. For weddings and parties, I recommend the Perfect Satin Hijab in ivory. It looks gorgeous when layered over an embellished underscarf. The romantic ruching and gathered fabric will photograph beautifully too.

While these hijabs need delicate care, the rewards are worth it. Elevate your next special event ensemble with one of Haute Hijab‘s sensational satin styles.

Active Sports Hijabs

No active woman should have to compromise her beliefs for the sake of fitness. That‘s why Haute Hijab‘s high-tech sports hijabs are such trailblazers. Offering maximum coverage without impeding movement, these hijabs empower Muslim athletes to perform at their best, whether on tracks, trails or courts.

Crafted using quick-dry, sweat-wicking and odor-fighting fabrics, Haute Hijab Activewear keeps you cool, dry and confident through even the most grueling workouts. I especially love the smart crisscross design that allows you to regulate coverage and airflow precisely to your head shape and hair volume.

The breathable composition and stretchy neck band adapts perfectly to runners, yogis, cyclists and every sport in between. And with fun colors and patterns like blush pink leopard and copper botanical, you can look as fierce as you feel during your fitness pursuits. Match your hijab to your leggings for a coordinated athleisure look.

At $65 these sports hijabs are admittedly an investment, but one that pays off through their unmatched performance and durability through wash after wash.

How To Style Your Haute Hijab

While Haute Hijab has revolutionized the possibilities of hijab fashion, learning how to drape and style them can have a learning curve. Here are my top styling tips:

1. Layer it up
For added coverage and stability, layer your Haute Hijab over an underscarf or bonnet. Opt for a complementary solid color or subtle pattern. This also helps absorb sweat to keep your hijab clean.

2. Play with placement
Haute Hijab‘s versatile rectangular shape lends itself to diverse styling methods. Center it directly over your forehead for a traditional look. Or try wearing it further back on your head for a more causal vibe.

3. Define your edges
Use pearl tipped pins (like Haute Hijab‘s cult favorite poised pins) placed strategically around the edges of your hijab to keep it neatly in place. This helps maintain crisp edges as you go about your day.

4. Drape it right
Practice makes perfect when it comes to achieving that perfect drape. Check out Haute Hijab‘s YouTube channel for easy-to-follow video tutorials to master iconic hijab coverage styles.

5. Complete the look
Accessorize your Haute Hijab with jewelry, brooches or scarves. Or keep it simple and let the gorgeous patterns be the star of your look.

Comparing Haute Hijab to the Competition

In a market saturated with modest fashion brands, Haute Hijab proves itself as an industry leader time and again.

Compared to mainstream retailers like H&M and Zara, Haute Hijab focuses specifically on the unique needs of hijab wearers. Their fabrics and coverage styling lead the market. Large chains may offer a handful of basic hijab options, but none can match Haute Hijab‘s breadth of textures, patterns and colors that make the traditional garment so much more.

Within the modest fashion space, Haute Hijab holds its own against dedicated players like Modanisa. Though the Turkish company edges out with a wider assortment covering all aspects of Islamic dressing, Haute Hijab dominates with its mastery over hijabs specifically.

The brand‘s social conscience also gives it an advantage where few competitors disclose ethical sourcing details at their scale. And leveraging the founder‘s personal experiences in building an inclusive brand has struck a chord with once marginalized Muslim women.

On price, Haute Hijab‘s direct-to-consumer model allows competitive pricing with any discount retailers. And customers agree that the unparalleled quality commands the price point.

When it comes to empowering hijab wearers through fashion, no one does it quite like Haute Hijab!

Caring for Your Haute Hijab

Like any fine fabrics, Haute Hijab‘s pieces require a gentle touch to preserve their integrity and finish over repeated use. Follow these care instructions to get the most out of your purchase:

1. Read the label
Each Haute Hijab comes with specific care guidelines based on its fabric composition. Natural fabrics like silk should always be hand washed or dry cleaned. While performance fabrics are machine washable. When in doubt, default to a more delicate approach.

2. Wash in cold water
Heat can damage delicate fabric textures and fade colors. Wash all Haute Hijabs in cold water on a gentle cycle. I recommend washing similar colors together as some darker shades may bleed at first.

3. Line dry only
Tumble drying can lead to irreversible wrinkles and misshaping in all Haute Hijab styles from chiffon to jersey. Always line dry out of direct sunlight to preserve the colors.

4. Iron on low
If your hijab is wrinkled, use the cool setting on your iron and avoid steaming the fabric directly. To set the shape, let it hang on a padded hanger overnight.

With some basic care, your thoughtfully crafted Haute Hijab will withstand seasons of wear and continue making you feel beautiful inside and out!

Customer Reviews

Having reviewed every aspect of these game-changing hijabs, what do real customers have to say? Across various platforms, Haute Hijab maintains stellar ratings:

• 5/5 stars on their website based on over 600 reviews
• 4.8/5 on TrustSpot from over 120 reviews
• 3.2/5 rating on TrustPilot, though most negative reviews focused on coronavirus related shipping delays

Here‘s what happy customers are saying:

"I literally tell every hijabi I meet to shop at Haute Hijab! Best quality hijabs that come in so many styles and colors. I get so many compliments when I wear them. Keep it up HH!"

"Haute Hijab makes me feel so represented as a Muslim woman. Not easy to find cute hijabs but they nail it every time. Plus it‘s run by inspiring Muslim businesswomen."

The occasional complaints seem to center around shipping times and wanting more product options. But I have full confidence Haute Hijab listens to this constructive feedback to continually improve as they grow.

Given their social impact combined with standout product quality and design, these negligible shortfalls are easy to overlook. Without a doubt, Haute Hijab delivers beautiful, conscious hijabs unmatched in the modest fashion space.

Final Verdict

For hijab wearers demanding comfortable coverage for every facet of life along with conscientious company values, Haute Hijab remains undefeated. Dazzling designs conceived by inspiring Muslim women check every box.

While importing specialized textiles prevents rock-bottom pricing, Haute Hijab still impressively competes with major retailers. The direct customer relationship and ethical production facilitate reasonable prices given the prime materials. Within the niche, few other brands balance style leadership, social impact and quality manufacturing to the same caliber.

Driven by the relentless Melanie Elturk herself, I envision even bigger strides as Haute Hijab continues redefining norms in and outside the Muslim community. Having spoken to customers first hand in addition to trying several products myself, this brand has earned a lifetime supporter.