By LISA KAAKI, LISAKAAKI@ARABNEWS.COM
Published: Dec 27, 2011 23:32 Updated: Dec 28, 2011 01:21
Styleislam.com has become in a record time, one of the most successful online retail stores and “a success connected to the reasons behind the establishment of the company in 2008,” says Muhammad Khojah, general manager of Styleislam for the Middle East.
After 9/11, the world changed its attitude toward Muslims and Islam. Every Muslim was viewed as a possible terrorist. The level of prejudice culminated with the Danish cartoons incident. At that point, the founder of Styleislam, graphic designer Melih Kesmen, thought it was time to show Islam in a different light and come up with a positive statement. He noticed that there was a lack of information about Islam and the Muslims.
“Kesmen then decided to print the slogan “I Love My Prophet” on a T-shirt. This first T-shirt is still the best selling item. Art and modern fashion, as a means to overcome religious and ethnic differences, is our brand’s mission,” explains Khojah.
Before founding Styleislam, an online Islamic-themed clothing label, in Germany three years ago, Kesmen was the CEO of Manatwork, an advertising agency which he established in 1998. Kesmen wanted to challenge the stereotypes of Islam that were being circulated, so he designed hip street wear along with accessories adorned with Islamic messages. These slogans introduced people to the Muslim faith.
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