Posted on 08/31/2006 10:22:22 PM PDT by quantim
ISTANBUL -- An unusual type of swimwear is standing out on Turkish beaches this summer -- Islam-inspired swimsuits -- which buck the trend of the past 100 years for swimsuits to get smaller.
Turkish businessman Mehmet Sahin has designed what he says is the world's first Islam-inspired swimsuit and sells head-to-ankle bathing gear to devout well-heeled Muslims, including the wives of Turkey's leading politicians.
"We are the preferred firm of the conservative politicians' wives," he said in an interview, referring to members of Turkey's ruling AK Party, which has its roots in political Islam and came to power in 2002.
His brightly-colored women's swimming costumes look like shiny track-suits with stretchy hoods, while the racier models are like cat suits with a separate overall to cover the curves.
These costumes are a throwback to the type of swimwear worn before Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman invented and wore the first one-piece swimsuit in 1906. She was arrested in the United States in 1907 for wearing the one-piece suit that showed her arms, legs and neck.
Sahin sold 40,000 swimsuits last year and expects to beat that with 50,000 this year.
"Now, when you say swimsuit, what do we understand? Bikinis or small trunks ... Perhaps in 10 or 15 years time when you say swimsuit, [mine] will also come to mind," he said.
Agreed! hehe
Ironically I have to wonder if he wouldn't have a market in the Orthodox Jewish community, or even among some of the more modest dressing Christians that I'm friends with.
I for one don't mind more modest things like this, regardless of the ethnic or religious background of the maker/designer. Provided they aren't funding terrorists, can more modesty be a bad thing.
*laugh* I guess I should follow this up by saying that I've been back at college this week (at 34 years old -- 3rd long semester back) and I'm abhorred by what the 18 year old girls are wearing. I thought it was just me until I asked a young friend (21) if I was just old -- and her exact words were: "no, they really do look like street sluts." Cracked me up. But, it is *really* bad this year.
I have 11 year old twin girls and I'm truly hoping that the trend comes back around to more coverage before they hit college!
Stunning !
Well, look at it this way. All the sharks are going to see are big colorful seal-like things in the water.
I'm ever the optimist.
well done,
GMAO!
teeman
ROTF! That guy in the background can't believe it either, 'eyes rolling.'
The guy with the newspaper was absolutely priceless!...I'm still lmao
LOL...I'll be optimistic with you.
ROFL! Oh, God, I am going to hurt myself I am laughing so hard!
Islam only allows one kind of camel toe.
Heh.
I hate the feel of sunblock, it icky, sticky and comes off pretty quickly and you have to reapply it all the time.
Just because a woman doesn't wear a bikini to the beach or show off her belly button at the grocery store doesn't automatically means she's oppressed.
I think women who flaunt their sexuality by wearing next to nothing are just as oppressed or even more so than women who chose to dress modestly.
What are you talking about? Muslim women are *hot*!
I used to live there. Went to college there. Too much rain. I can understand why places like Seattle and Juneau have high suicide rates.
This is where I get my sun protecting clothes.
My husband and I both have this cap and we wear it when we go hiking or backpacking. Some of our friends say it makes us look "arab" but at least we are protected from the sun and can get away with wearing less icky, sticky sunscreen.
Because some women understand that women who feel compelled by society to go around in belly bearing, tight fitting clothes and itsy bitsy swimwear can be just as oppressed by men as burka babes.
Just because a woman is modest, doesn't mean she's oppressed and just because a woman is wearing a string thong bikini, doesn't mean she's liberated.
Ok...I'll just take the advice of your tagline, enough said.
Or Sun Protections Women's swimwear
Most of the folks talking on this thread would have a fit of apoplexy if I showed up in this, claiming that I'm oppressed. LOL.
To me, skin cancer is much more oppressive than covering up a bit.
Absolutely not. Modesty is always a good thing, not only in one's choice of clothing but in all aspects of our lives.
You wouldn't know that from the responses to this thread, particularly the male ones.
Trouble is that most fat girls and women (and men) don't KNOW they are fat, so they dress like they are slim. I have dreaded summer for a long time now. The teenage, and older, gals pull those hip hugger jeans all the way down to impossible, wear tops that expose their fat bellies and cleavage. Even females who are fairly slim make themselves look pudgy with those bulging bellies sticking out over the low slung hip huggers. . and the fat females who wear these tattoo revealing styles look literally nauseating.
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