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The subject of religion and dress in Turkey, a secular state where Islam is the dominant faith, has been debated at great length in the media. Through in-depth ethnographic research into contemporary Islamic dress in Turkey, Islam, Faith and Fashion examines the aesthetic desirability, religious appropriateness and ethical credibility of the contemporary Turkish fashion market.
What makes a fashionable outfit Islamically appropriate? What makes an Islamically appropriate outfit fashionable? Craciun tackles the delicate and often incompatible relationship between clothing worn in recognition of religious belief and clothing worn purely because it is fashionable. Âlâ, the first glossy magazine for pious Muslim women is used as a starting point for wider discussions of how Islamic clothing is designed, manufactured, sold and advertised in Turkey. Through case studies including an interview with the designer of the outfit that graced the first cover of the magazine and interviews with the editors, Islam, Faith and Fashion questions the commercialization and normalization of Islamic dress in contemporary Turkish society.
With diverse fashion markets thriving in contemporary Turkey, this timely analysis of fashion, religion, ethics and aesthetics presents dress as a disputed and a contested locus of modernity. Islam, Faith and Fashion will be essential reading for students of fashion, anthropology and visual culture.