By: Michelle Gross
I met 27-year-old Nailah Limus, outside of the Masjid Abdul Muhsi Khalifah in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn. The mosque is a historic religious and cultural institution, founded by Malcolm X in 1959. As the call to prayer was sounding outside of the Mosque, congregants came together to pray.
A Brooklyn native, and a single mother, Limus it at the start of a blossoming new fashion career, with her line, Amira Creations, making its debut during the New York 2011 Fashion Week.
Sisters and congregants of the Masjid Khalifa in Bed Stuy Brooklyn
Now with her fashion line up and off the ground, Limus is continuing to build her brand. The line, a combination of her love of vintage and “the whimsical power of femininity,” is a testament to herself both as a designer and as a practicing Muslim. In addition to selling her clothing, Limus is also on a mission to break the stereotypes associated with contemporary practicing Muslims, especially in the way they express themselves through fashion.
In this interview, Limus shares her thoughts on breaking down the stereotypes attached to Muslims, especially pertaining to the cultural differences and expectations of how women of the Muslim faith are expected to dress.