Modest Fashion: Dubai, Jakarta and Abaya Trends — 2026-09-25

Top developments

Indonesian modest brands exhibit at Saudi Fashiontex Expo 2026 in Jeddah

Saudi Fashiontex Expo 2026 opened September 24–27 at the Jeddah Center for Forums and Events, with Indonesia taking part through Scarf Media's Modestluxe platform, which curated a group of Indonesian modest-fashion brands for the Saudi market. The move gives Indonesian hijab and modest-wear labels direct access to Gulf buyers — a key export lane, as Indonesia's Industry Ministry has long targeted Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, Pakistan and Egypt as priority modest-fashion export markets.

Muslimah Creative Day 2026 opens at ICE BSD City

Muslimah Creative Day 2026, initiated by Scarf Media, opened Thursday, September 24 in Halls 3 and 3A at ICE BSD City, Tangerang, for the first time co-located with Halal Indo to bring together modest fashion brands, businesses and consumers under one roof. Coverage highlighted the event's mix of modest fashion showcases and business programming. It signals Jakarta's growing role as a modest-wear trade hub between biennial Jakarta Muslim Fashion Week editions.

Saudi National Day spotlights the Kingdom's designer wave

In the run-up to Riyadh Fashion Week's fourth edition (October 15–20), Saudi National Day coverage profiled homegrown designers who have taken Saudi heritage into global fashion. Vogue Arabia likewise framed the moment around the designers "giving Saudi fashion a new direction" ahead of the October calendar.

Riyadh label Shalky launches "Whisper of Autumn"

Saudi fashion house Shalky announced its latest dress collection, "Whisper of Autumn" (همس الخريف), blending Eastern luxury with a contemporary vision — a sign of Gulf labels pitching collections ahead of the October fashion-week window and the autumn-social season.

Fashion Nation marks 20 years of Indonesian fashion evolution

Senayan City staged Fashion Nation 20th Edition: The Icon Edition on September 18–26 in Jakarta, tracing two decades of Indonesian fashion from traditional wastra to modern design — including the evolution of modest wear on Indonesian runways.

Local view

Indonesian media underscored the government's framing of modest fashion as a national growth engine: halal-product exports from Indonesia reached US$35.72 billion in the first half of 2026, and Indonesian Muslim household consumption was cited at Rp5.9 trillion amid the push to make Indonesia a global halal hub. Trade data show Indonesian fashion exports grew 4.56% to US$6.5 billion (Rp108.5 trillion) in January–September 2025, announced around the JMFW 2026 opening. In the Gulf, Emirati press continues to position Dubai Fashion Week as the city's anchor for regional elegance, while Saudi lifestyle outlets like Sayidaty lead local designer coverage ahead of Riyadh Fashion Week.

Context & numbers

Global Muslim consumer spending on modest fashion reached approximately $347 billion in 2024 (up 6.2% year-on-year) and is projected to hit $444 billion by 2029 at a 5.1% CAGR, per the State of the Global Islamic Economy Report 2025/26. Earlier reporting put Muslim spending on clothing at $433 billion by 2028. JMFW 2025 recorded a potential transaction value of US$20.4 million, exceeding its target. Indonesia's ready-made garment industry employs some 2.7 million workers across 569,000 firms.

On the radar

• Riyadh Fashion Week, fourth edition, October 15–20, 2026 — designer applications opened in September
• Dubai Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2027 at Dubai Design District, October 22–26, 2026 — its move to October aims to align the Arab/meta-season ahead of 2027
• UNIQLO's Fall/Winter 2026 Hijab Collection — coverage frames it within a broader shift of mass-market modest wear from aesthetics to functionality
• Retail trend watchers flag "architectural minimalism" in post-Ramadan modest wardrobes