Product Review: Tasnim Collections Hafsah Jilbab and XXL Niqab

Sweater weather! <3

Assalaamu alaikum everyone! Today is Wednesday, and Wednesdays are for PRODUCT REVIEWS! And I'm FAR too excited about today's review! (Seriously! You don't even know! - Additionally, my apologies for it being put up around Maghreb time... I had an MRI today when I would have normally been writing up my blog.) 

Starting out, ordering from Joanna was a dream. She is so so sweet and very quick to respond. If you ever have any questions about an order (how heavy/warm fabric is, which color you should order, length of niqab, etc.), she responds promptly and will give her honest opinion, ma shaa Allah! If you are concerned about your package, she does her best to help, and if you want to order a fabric that she is nearly out of, she will let you know. Allahumma barik laha!

Shipping took about three weeks from when she mailed the package. My package left Morocco on August 18 and I received it after Maghreb on September 5. The shipping site for Poste Moroc can be a little confusing, especially after the package arrives in the U.S.. My package appeared to "arrive" at its destination about four times before it was actually delivered to me; I think it's a misunderstanding on the translation or system when it comes to how USPS works. 

When I opened my package (after a bad day and thinking it would, yet again, not arrive after appearing on the website  that it would), the first thing I noticed was the smell of Arabic coffee! I don't know why, but my jilbab I ordered smelled like Arabic coffee made with cardamom! The niqab, unfortunately, did not have this scent, but the scent really perked me up! Some initial thoughts while putting on the jilbab: 

"It's so wide!" 

"Oh wow it's the perfect length!" 

"The color isn't as bright as I expected..."

"Oh cool, I can use it as a niqab without tying it above my bun!"

See? No pins!

Note: Adding jacket does bring jilbab up some.

I think that, perhaps, the headband and ties are wider than other jilabib I've owned. This may be what allows the bottom part to get pulled up for use as niqab easily. However, you can order your jilbab with "niqab strings" when you order from Tasnim; these come standard with the khimar-niqabs. 

The Hafsah jilbab comes with thumb loops. I didn't think I would like these, I will admit. I don't tend to care if some of my forearm is exposed, even while wearing gloves, and prefer that to a lack of freedom of motion. As an artist, my sleeves getting pushed up is pretty normal. However, I actually like to use the thumb loops on this jilbab, especially during salah. I prefer them on my thumbs rather than my middle finger, as I feel more restricted with the latter. If I am wearing a jacket or cardigan I generally don't wear the loops, however, as that does either restrict movement quite a bit (for me) or it ends up bringing up the skirt of the jilbab further than I generally prefer.

The jilbab itself is lightweight and breathable, but not as breathable/cool as nidha fabric. However, this is probably the next best fabric I've worn, other than cotton. I had the jilbab cut "petite" due to my small size, and while it seems wide due to the cut, I know that, had I requested "regular," it would have been near to ridiculous and comical on me. As it is, I really love this cut - it's like a wide caftan or "Saudi" jilbab cut - and the flowiness helps keep you cool in the heat. I mentioned that the color isn't as bright as anticipated - on the computer and on the video the fabric appears much more vibrant than it does in real life and in the pictures posted here. However, the color is still beautiful and it REALLY brings out my olive undertones, to the point that I did double-takes several times the first day I wore it!

The niqab is absolutely gorgeous. When I put it on and realized it had an eye veil, which isn't noted or shown online, I was extremely excited, as none of my other niqabs have this. I don't really like to wear sunglasses with niqab because I feel it can look kind of weird and I know that a lack of seeing the face and eyes tends to... disturb people more than just niqab. However, with my light sensitivity, this isn't feasible (I even have to wear sunglasses at night if we are driving or if we are going on a walk, my sensitivity is this bad... and I'm on medication that makes it manageable). I've found that having the eye screen down (it can be flipped up if desired), while still needing sunglasses at times normal people also need sunglasses, allows me to be outside without them during normal lighting and at night. This has been a HUGE breakthrough for me as I feel it helps me interact more normally with others. 

Without eye screen.

With eye screen down.

The niqab has a ribbon at the nose. I was dubious about this at first, as I worried the wider ribbon (as compared to the string on my string niqab) would fit weird with my face due to how small I am. However, I really like it, and the length of it is just perfect (I had to alter the length of the string, which has now caused fraying) and I think it fits really well with my more goth-y style.

This niqab is super unique! I thought it was just a Saudi-style niqab, but instead the "two" veil layers are actually connected!

As you can see, when you flip the first veil layer over your face, it becomes a wide circle of fabric, with no hem. Each side also has ties, so you can bring forward the veil layers to cover your arms and chest without flipping it forward. Another suggestion (unshown), was to tie the niqab ties to the wrists to keep full coverage behind you while walking. 

The niqab, as named, is quite long! It is so long, in fact, that I was concerned it would touch the ground due to my short stature. Luckily, it doesn't, but if you are shorter than 4'10", it's quite possible that it will. You should be able to speak with Joanna via email and it may be possible for them to shorten the length if desired. 

Here you can see how long the niqab is on me, and how wide the jilbab is, even at "petite". 

The niqab portion itself is close to the longest I like on me, as much longer can make eating difficult. The fabric used by Tasnim Collections for this niqab is very similar to the fabric used by Sunnah Style, if you have used their niqabs before. It's not as breathable as Saudi Crepe, but it is likely the next-most breathable fabric on the market. 

Overall, I'm extremely happy with this order, and I would love to try other items from Tasnim, bi'ithnillah, as they have some really beautiful and innovative designs which I haven't found elsewhere! If you want to order the Hafsah jilbab, go here, and if you would like to order the XXL Niqab (which also comes in several color choices!), go here.

In shaa Allah you enjoyed my review as much as I enjoy these products! Please let me know if there is something specific you would like to see reviewed!

Jazakum Allahu kheiran, 

Sajida. 

Because doesn't everyone put on their new clothes at 8pm and watch Smallville?