Nike launches Pro Hijab for female Muslim atheletes

Nike's newest product isn't a sneaker. It's a hijab.

The active wear company recently launched a sports-friendly version of the traditional headscarf.

According to Vogue Arabia, the pull-on Pro Hijab is made of light stretchy breathable fabric, a welcome relief from traditional fabrics like cotton, which retains moisture and can cause discomfort when an athlete gets sweaty.

“The Nike Pro Hijab was designed as a direct result of our athletes telling us they needed this product to perform better,” Megan Saalfeld, a Nike spokesperson, told Al Arabiya English. The Emirati Olympian Amna Al Haddad told Nike during a visit to the company’s sports lab in Oregon that she had just one hijab she could wear, and she had to hand-wash it in the sink every night during competitions.

The brand has been developing the product for over a year and the hijab has been tested by many hijab wearing athletes.

The testers include Abu Dhabi based figure skater Zahra Lari and mountaineer Manal Rostom.

While many small companies have attempted active wear for Muslim women, Nike is the first multinational company to take this step. Nike plans to release the Pro Hijab early next year.