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Dolce & Gabbana just launched its first abaya collection, according to Style.com/Arabia. The Italian fashion house's debut collection includes both hijabs and the flowing garments known as abayas. The pieces incorporate sheer georgette and charmeuse fabrics in both neutral tones, like black and beige, and prints, like daisies, lemons, and red roses. "They also appear to feature a lightweight and dramatic drape," Style.com/Arabia's Caterina Minthe writes, "which makes this debut collection rife with special occasion overlays to be worn to celebrate the inimitable dolce vita that is distinct to us in the Arab world."
Stefano Gabbana mentioned this summer that his label was working on a UAE abaya collection. "I’m really fascinated with the Middle East and we’ve just completed a prêt-a-porter collection of abayas and sheylas," he told The National in July. "Pieces have some lace, embroidery and some prints – but not too much."
Mic's Ellie Krupnick asserts that "Dolce and Gabbana may be one of the most high-end, famed luxury brands to foray into hijabs and abayas," but other mainstream brands have also recently rolled out collections geared toward Muslim customers. In 2015, DKNY and Mango launched collections timed to coincide with the start of Ramadan, and Uniqlo also sold hijabs in a designer collab this summer with UK-based designer Hana Tajima.