My First Burqini! (modest swimsuit)

[I wrote this article in 2007;  here's a re-post! p.s. I still have the same suit, I've worn it a hundred times, and it still looks brand new!]


Here I am to the left in my super-hero pose. The only thing missing is a cape! It was a running joke this summer; when I slipped on my modest swimsuit (aka "burqini: :) I turned into super-mommy. You see that lake behind me? We were in the beautiful Okanogan region of British Columbia. I swam in that lake all day...comfortably! And I didn't get sympathy looks; I got compliments!

One kind, older lady even asked me where I got my suit and I had to spell out the name a few times: "A-h-i-i-d-a". She was a very pale woman who wanted a suit to protect her skin from sunburn. I told her that, despite all the sunscreen, my entire family was burned after a few scalding days on the beach - everyone but me.

I'll be frank for a moment though. Do you remember that moment that you wore hijab for the first time in public? You felt simultaneously proud and anxious right? Well, be warned: you'll feel the exact same anxiety the first time you walk out in a modest swimsuit. I deal with this by staring straight ahead and avoiding eye contact for the first, say, five minutes. But I urge you - no, dare you - to walk out of the change room and take a big bow, then give everyone the Queen's wave all the way to the water!

Actually, I was quite surprised at how easily I fit in with my modest swimsuit. Whether at the beach or the pool, once I was inside the water, it seemed as though no one noticed how differently I was dressed. I have to credit the modern, athletic design of the Ahiida suit for this; the head cover looks like a new-age swim cap and the entire suit is top quality (you deserve quality at the price you pay for it, close to $200 CDN with shipping). It looks as professionally made as brand name athletic gear.

So how does it feel to swim covered up? Fair question. I was completely comfortable in and out of the water - despite the fact that my swimsuit is the most modest style that Ahiida offers. It's the loosest fit available, and the shirt falls just above the knees. What makes it so comfy is that it's made of a superbly soft material that feels great against the skin, and it's stretchy so your movement is not restricted. Most importantly, since it's not tight or water repellent you do feel the water all over your body from under and through the suit.

The Details: The top of my Ahiida modest-fit suit reaches to just above the knees and the pants are pretty much straight-cut, not tight like leggings. None the less, since fabric floats you don't feel much extra weight in the water. (By the way, there are some handy ties on the inner sides of the top that you tie to the pants so the shirt won't ride up in the water. I didn't notice this for awhile!) The swim hood ("Hijood") is what sets this suit apart from all past attempts at modest swimsuit design. It's snug enough so it doesn't move around, but not tight. Perfect fit. Since it's attached to the suit there's no fussing around with it. There is space in the hood for your ponytail, so your hair is totally out of the way. There are holes in the hem of the pants so if you want to add elastic, chord, or ties (to avoid riding up in the water) you can do so. I would have preferred that the pants came with this accessory instead having to do it myself. The only annoyance is that the pants feel a bit weighty at the bottom until the water drains out. TIP: when going into the water just tug forward the suit under your chin to let the air out otherwise you'll inflate like a balloon! Do the same thing when exiting the water so the top won't cling to you.

The great thing about the Ahiida suit is that it's quick drying, so after about 20 minutes in the hot sun, the top and most of the pants feel dry. At the pool, you stay in the water the whole time anyways - there's no lounging around - so it's not a big deal overall. By the way, I've worn my suit to several indoor pools and no lifeguard has said anything to me about it (in my city they encourage swimming in anything you like).

To sum up my experience with my modest swimsuit (Ahiida brand): I had a blast! I would recommend this suit to anyone. It's top quality, comfortable, and it looks really cute! But no matter what swimsuit you choose, even if you put together your own, don't be too shy to hit the water! Once you put on your suit, you turn into a super-hero of sorts. You can do anything!

-G