If you didn’t know, February 1 is World Hijab Day 2026, a day spent to recognise the millions of muslim women who choose to wear the hijab and live a life of modesty. It is a day to honour their lifestyle, their religious freedom, and the role the hijab plays within their background, while also inviting non-hijabis and non-Muslims to join in. Founded by Bangladeshi-New York activist Nazma Khan, the day was created after Khan’s own personal experiences of feeling othered by the hijab.
“Growing up in the Bronx, New York City, I experienced a great deal of discrimination due to my hijab,” said Khan. “I figured the only way to end discrimination is if we ask our fellow sisters to experience hijab themselves.”
In this small way, by inviting women of all walks of life to don the hijab and modest clothing, we slowly step into the shoes of the Muslim women who choose the hijab as their everyday. And with this small adjustment, we can easily put aside the misunderstandings, stereotypes, and ridiculous connotations hijabi women have to face. By joining in, the campaign reflects that hijabi women are just like us. And what they chose for their comfort shouldn’t be a means for discrimination or bullying.
Established in 2013, World Hijab Day has been going strong for 13 years now, gaining international recognition. People in approximately 150 countries take part every year to show solidarity or possibly dip their toes into living a modest life. As we propel the conversation into modest fashion onto the wider stage, it must be noted that it is within these populations that the foundations of modest fashion were built. Strategic layers, curated accessories, and playful takes on conservative cuts, proportions, and silhouettes all came from modest women simply living their truth.
If you would like to take part and honour the day, then there are plenty of ways to join in the movement. The simplest of them is wearing the hijab itself on February 1. But it doesn’t come with the headscarf alone; by wearing the hijab for a day, you also commit to dressing modestly as well. Another way to help is by donating to World Hijab Day’s official website. As a non-profit organisation, they help to educate and empower women through campaigns. And finally, you can join in their virtual conference that takes place every year. Streaming live from Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn from 9 AM – 12:30 PM EST, the conference will mainly get into the topic of hijabis in leadership. Featuring modest fashion designer Rabia Z. Zargarpur, Miss New Hampshire USA 2025, MonaLesa Brackett, and award-winning humanitarian Shreen Mahmood, the conference will be a platform to share personal stories, educate those unaware, and take a stand against discrimination.
