Nike Pro Hijab: Mixed Reactions To New Sports Wear For Muslim Women

Nike has launched a hijab custom designed so that a Muslim woman who wants to cover her head can still work out. Religious female Muslim athletes trying to find a way of dressing modestly while still competing in high-level sporting events like the Olympics are getting a new and surprising ally, that's Nike.

The sportswear giant said it was inspired by Saudi Arabian runner Sarah Attar, who competed in the 800m race at the London 2012 Olympics wearing a hijab, and Emirati weightlifter Amna Al Haddad, who competed in the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

A Nike statement said: ‘The Nike Pro Hijab may have been more than a year in the making, but its impetus can be traced much further back, to an ongoing cultural shift that has seen more women than ever embracing sport.

In February, Nike celebrated Muslim athletes in a campaign video called “What Will They Say About You,” featuring women breaking stereotypes. The video went viral and was the first step in Nike’s expansion into the Middle East.

Since the unveiling, the company has received its share of backlash from the public. Social media users have criticized the company for supporting the “oppression of women,” prompting tweets of dissent with the hashtag #BoycottNike. Here are some of the reaction tweets that stood contrary to the Nike pro Hijab:

While, some people welcomed the Nike pro Hijab launch.