By Ebony S. Muhammad via The Final Call Newspaper
TORINO, Italy—What more could a person ask for than for their life dream to become a reality before the entire world? Opportunities like that don’t come often so when Muslim fashion designer, Carmin Muhammad, was invited to participate in Torino Fashion Week in Italy, she accepted without hesitation.
Out of 125 participants, only five were invited from the United States, of which Carmin Muhammad of Al Nisa Designs, was the only Black modest designer.
From the moment, the Al Nisa Designs team stepped foot into Torino, Italy everyone wanted to know who they were and about the meaning of their distinct headpiece and garment. Every day numerous individuals and families would approach the group of women to meet them and take photos with them.
It was as if the whole city stopped to behold the presence of God in the Muslim Girls Training and General Civilization Class (M.G.T. and G.C.C.), the women and girls of the Nation of Islam under the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and Minister Louis Farrakhan. The Muslim sisters received endless compliments on their attire and beauty throughout their weeklong stay. This year, Torino Fashion Week, June 28-July 3, featured a modest designer segment produced by the Islamic Fashion and Design Council, featuring over two dozen designers from around the world including Carmin Muhammad.
Ms. Muhammad, a long-time and experienced designer extended invitations to a small group of Al Nisa Designs team members to accompany her and share what seemed to be a surreal, yet, long-awaited opportunity to represent the Nation of Islam on a world-wide platform that was specially created to showcase modest fashion.
Hassanah Muhammad (Rialto, Calif.), Harmoni Muhammad (Los Angeles), Summayah Muhammad (Rialto, Calif.), Nzinga Muhammad (Rialto, Calif.), this writer Ebony Saffiyah Muhammad (Houston), Scherri Muhammad (Rialto, Calif.), Georgette Muhammad (Rialto, Calif.) and Sonya Muhammad (Calhoun, La.) were among the delighted band of M.G.T. and G.C.C. to take part in the nine day fashion expedition. Along with them was Mikal Muhammad (Los Angeles) who served as the group’s security to ensure the safety of the sisters while in Italy.
“It was such a blessing to be in Torino, Italy at the invitation of Sister Carmin Muhammad, to represent the teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad,” expressed Georgette Muhammad, a fellow designer and owner of Freedom Apparel.
“When we came through as sisters and they (people of Torino) saw us dressed in the garment in the same style, everyone was in awe of us,” explained Scherri Muhammad, who assisted as the traveling manager of the Al Nisa Designs collection.
No one could have prepared the group of Muslim women for the reception, support, love and attention that was showered upon them during the whole week in Torino. Even during what was considered “down time” when the group toured the city on foot in their modest Muslim attire and draped scarves, people were drawn to them recognizing that there was something different and special about them. All praises are due to Allah (God)!
On multiple occasions, special accommodations were made for them at dinner to be seated in the area of their choice, that was modest and secure. The video footage produced by the writer of this article Ebony S. Muhammad the publisher of Hurt2Healing Magazine, offered a behind the scenes look at all four days Al Nisa Designs took part in Torino Fashion Week. The video presentations displayed the business networking events and workshops that were facilitated. The debut night of Al Nisa Designs was captured as well as reactions from attendees from all over the world.
The Torino Fashion Week awards ceremony, where Carmin Muhammad received the Top Three Designer award from Ala Hamdan and the Louis Vuitton honorary brand award was recorded and released online for the world to view.
“My goal in filming this entire fashion week was to showcase to the world of what Master Fard Muhammad, the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan are producing inside the women and girls in the Nation of Islam, and to bring everyone along for the experience,” said Ebony S. Muhammad.
“When we were walking around in our uniform, it’s not like when we walk around in America. It’s different. It’s kind of like they know what they’re looking at,” said Nzinga Muhammad, an Al Nisa Designs assistant who captured the fashion show video footage seen in the day 4 video compilation.
One thing is for sure, Carmin Muhammad and her team made a lasting impression on the entire city. Various newspapers and media outlets featured images of the M.G.T, referring to the group as “The Pink Ladies In Hijabs.” Photos of the Al Nisa Designs team were featured throughout the official Torino Fashion Week Facebook page. Carmin Muhammad conducted multiple interviews, with Modest Magazine as well as RAI Italia Television. Immediately following the debut night, various news outlets released coverage with headlines referring to how Al Nisa Designs “stole the show.”
