Shirt, Pants, And Swim Hood

This object is not part of the Cooper Hewitt's permanent collection. It was able to spend time at the museum on loan from Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco as part of Contemporary Muslim Fashions.

In the early 2000s, several Muslim designers observed a lack of functional full-coverage swimwear on the market. In order to meet Muslim women’s standards of modesty, the swimwear needed to cover the head, legs, and arms, and not be form-fitting or clingy when wet—criteria that eliminated most commonly used swimwear fabrics. Research in materials, fit, and fabrication is making it possible for more women and girls to participate in water activities.

In developing her full-coverage swimwear, Californian and long-time diver Shereen Sabet was inspired by surfer culture and her own dry suit. Her mix-and-match pieces are made from the same water-repellent fabric used in men’s board shorts, which does not cling when wet, allowing “Muslim women to comfortably and fully participate in water recreation with the rest of the crowd.”

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Contemporary Muslim Fashions.