For many exercises, the Zaytuna cloak (US, UK) is an excellent piece. Normally, I am in-between sizes when it comes to SHUKR galabiyyas; the smalls are a bit short on me while the mediums are rather baggy. The Zaytuna Cloak (US, UK) is particularly loose, so I normally wear a small, though I also own one in medium. The medium gives me such freedom of motion that I have no problem doing free weights and chin-ups in it. And, after a grueling workout, it’s nice to be wearing something that doesn’t feel like it’s attached to your body.

Recently, a group of brothers in Amman went hiking in Dibbeen. I wore the perfect hiking garment: a Zaytuna Cloak (US, UK) – in small to ensure I wouldn’t trip on it. After the less-than-taxing hike through the wildflower-covered hills, we decided to play a game of Capture the Flag. After an initial tie, we played the deciding game. One of the opposing team’s better players was hovering around our side. I wanted to eliminate him, so I bolted towards him and started my fateful chase downfield. What happened after that was somewhat of a blur, but somehow one of the children on the field got right in front of me as I was running. Other than having the wind knocked out of him, the boy was ok. I wasn’t as lucky. Alhamdulillah, I managed to break the fall on my hands and knees, followed by a roll. When I got up, I found my hands were bleeding, and the thin white non-SHUKR trousers I wore under the Zaytuna Cloak (US, UK) were all bloodied and shredded, but the Zaytuna Cloak (US, UK) was in fine shape, other than quite a bit of dust, a minor scratch, and a loose, but still-attached, thread-button. The white cotton slacks are now history, but I still wear the Zaytuna Cloak (US, UK) regularly. Some day, somewhere, a rugby team needs to use a customized Zaytuna Cloak (US, UK) as its uniform.

Back in 2008, I visited my family in Vancouver. While there, I decided I’d get back into running. I know that, with a bit of practice, I can maintain eight-minute miles. So, when visiting my mother, I went to her building’s gym and hopped on the treadmill at the desired rate. It turns out that when you’re in your mid-thirties and haven’t worked out for a few months, you can’t just pick up where you left off. I certainly didn’t make it to my goal that day, nor the day after it. However, by the end of the week, I was doing eight-minute miles easily, alhamdulillah. Of course, the treadmill was just the appetizer. This was followed by a couple rounds of the Grouse Grind, Vancouver’s outdoor staircase. Evidence of my successful climb up Grouse Mountain is below, where I triumphantly stand in true SHUKR fashion, sporting the 100% Cotton Baggy Trousers (US), sans tête, and complete with ugly shoes.

(Above: 100% Cotton Baggy Trousers, US)

~ Moustafa, Manager, Retail Division

Of course I’m being facetious. The very definition of the word, “dress” is that of a feminine garment. However, the concept of an ankle- or calf-length garment for men is by no means feminine. Historically, the early Arabs merely called it a qamees, or “shirt.” Later, distinctions were made between the currently more typical short shirt and the much longer variety. Despite the fact that men have been wearing these long garments for most of human history, there remain a number of Westerners who jokingly refer to my garment of choice as a “dress.”

Ironically, I am not the one wearing clothing of the opposite gender. Rather, it was Yves Saint-Laurent who popularized women’s trousers. Prior to him, standalone trousers were not worn by women. (The salwar kameez does not consist of standalone trousers, but rather, baggy trousers covered by a knee-length shirt, hardly comparable to Western trousers.) Given that YSL was a homosexual, it kind of makes sense that he’d want to improve women’s appearances by making them look more like men.

At SHUKR, our head designer is a woman. Furthermore, the men at SHUKR believe that women have a natural advantage in the appearance department, and don’t need to dress like men to look good. Take my word for it; I wear the dress around here.

(Above: Salim Galabiyya, US, UK)

~ Moustafa, Manager, Retail Division