Modest swimwear gets a stylish upgrade in Istanbul

Amid the glamour and elegance of the catwalks at Modanisa Istanbul Modest Fashion Week shows on Saturday, April 20, there was a collection that stood out from the rest. One look from the Mayovera show featured a pair of monochrome houndstooth-printed trousers with a subtle pop of yellow, paired with a high-neck black tunic. Upon closer inspection, it became clear that this outfit was crafted completely from swim material – and was in fact a modest swimsuit.

The standard burkini may be practical and functional, but for Turkish designer Ayca Makbule Ture, founder of Mayovera, it simply wasn’t satisfying a market of Muslim women who seek to look chic and sleek while enjoying the beach and pool. “Your swimwear looks like clothing,” I tell her after her runway show. “Everybody says that,” she replies through a translator.

She says that when she launched Mayovera in 2015, there was a clear gap in the modest swimwear market. The long tunic-and-leggings ensembles, which have come to be known as burkinis, were predominantly plain black or navy blue. “Women prefer detailed clothes not plain clothes, so why not on the beach, too?” she says. The designer pours as much into her swimwear creations as one would on a clothing line – ruched sleeves, ruffles, colour-blocking and a variety of splashy prints feature in her latest collection.

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Modest fashion weeks reveal over and over again that modesty is a spectrum, and women interpret modesty in their own ways, based on their personal views and religious beliefs. Understanding this wide range of style preferences, Mayovera offers two coverage options – hijab-friendly swimwear that cover from the neck to the ankle, as well as what the designer calls “half-covered” pieces, which include one-piece swimsuits with attached skirts, and surf-inspired rash guards decorated with embellishments, such as pearls.

Mayovera is based in Turkey and sells online at Modanisa.com, which offers shipping across the GCC.

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THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick

Hometown: Cologne, Germany

Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)

Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes

Favourite hobby: Football

Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk

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Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk

“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”

“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”

“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”

“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”