Modest fashion surges as global market nears £63bn

EUROPE (MNTV) – Flowing skirts, wide-leg trousers, long-sleeved blouses and chiffon scarves are driving a modest-fashion boom that spans faiths and continents.

In Europe alone, the market is projected to hit £62.8 billion by the end of 2025, according to Bath University, while globally halal fashion is forecast to grow from USD 407 billion in 2023 to USD 571 billion by 2030.

Ayah, 33, founded Key Modesty after repeatedly buying clothes abroad to find coverage.

“I realised there was a big gap in the market,” she says. Her line offers fully lined dresses, abayas and co-ords. “You could go to any high street and buy a dress, only to realise it has a long slit down the side or back — there’s rarely a truly modest option.”

Many of her customers, she adds, are not Muslim: “It’s beautiful knowing our customers aren’t just Muslims; lots of non-Muslims love modesty as much as us.”

For Tasmia, 30, modest clothing is a journey of faith and empowerment. She mixes high-street favourites with longer sleeves and higher necklines, avoiding cropped or ripped pieces.

“I love mom jeans,” she says, “but why are there so many rips in every pair? And basic T-shirts are often see-through, which means layering.”

She notes that some brands “charge so much for basic pieces because they know it’s not available elsewhere.”

Yumna, 20, a sales adviser, links modest fashion to conscious consumption: “I rarely buy new clothes — most are years old or given to me. I look for pieces that aren’t see-through because I don’t like layering.”

Designers such as Dolce & Gabbana and Nike have tapped the trend with abaya ranges and sports hijabs, while social-media influencers are recasting mainstream styles.

For many women, modest fashion remains more than commerce — it is self-expression aligned with identity and values.