Join us on July 24th at 7:30pm ET for our next MWSS seminar, “Now You See Me: Examining the Sartorial Practices of Migrant Muslim Women in Canada” with Reyhab Patel.
ABSTRACT
The seminar will explore four key themes: code-switching, intra-religious conflict, resistance to Western norms, and the development of a new concept I termed "spatial visibility"—the idea that certain spaces amplify the visibility of sartorial practices, particularly in the context of gendered Islamophobia.
It will examine the ways Muslim women navigate their sartorial choices, looking at dressing as a form of advocacy. The session will also critically engage with the term "modest fashion," often synonymously applied to Muslim women's clothing, and argue for a broader understanding of "Muslim fashion" that reflects diverse lived experiences. By tying these discussions to concepts of lived religion and lived Islam, the seminar aims to provide a nuanced perspective on the intersection of faith, identity, and clothing.
ABOUT REYHAB MOHMED PATEL
Reyhab Mohmed Patel is a scholar-artist and PhD candidate in Sociology at Carleton University whose research explores the intersections of art, identity, and resistance in Muslim communities. Her work focuses on how Muslim artists use creative practices—including digital art, fashion, storytelling and AI to challenge Islamophobia and imagine alternative futures. With a background in Fashion Studies and a Master’s thesis titled Now You See Me, Reyhab critically examines the visibility of Muslim women through dress and spatial politics. Her work has been exhibited internationally and featured in museums and academic forums, including the Digital British Islam conference and the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. Reyhab’s approach blends ethnography, storytelling, and visual methods to advance conversations around belonging, digital resistance, and the future of Muslim representation in Canada.
About Muslim Women Scholars Series
The Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) is pleased to present the Muslim Women Scholars Series. One of CCMW's strategic goals is to promote critical thinking among Muslims and non-Muslims to challenge stereotypes and assumptions about Islam, Muslim women and their families. One way of doing this is to feature the work of contemporary Muslim women scholars focusing on diverse topics related to Muslim women.
For more information or partnership opportunities, email us at events@ccmw.com.