The Toronto Raptors, in partnership with Nike, have introduced a new line of team-branded athletic hijabs. The team says that the inspiration for the apparel was for “those brave enough to change the game.”
The Raptors declare that they are the first NBA team to offer an athletic hijab for Muslim women. The team’s parent company, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, says that the organization was inspired to create the hijabs by a local Muslim women’s organization called the Hijabi Ballers who regularly play at a community court associated with the Raptors.
“They really wanted to involve local Muslim female athletes,” says Amreen Kadwa, founder of Hijabi Ballers. “There was a genuine partnership and interest to highlight this group, making it authentic to the Muslim community.” Ms. Kadwa adds, “It’s been received positively among Muslim females and Raptors fans. Toronto is a great multicultural city to introduce something like this.”
