UCLA Center for the Study of Women

Around January 2007, a bathing suit designed for Muslim women became a media sensation. The multi-piece, water-repellent suits, designed especially for women who practice sartorial hijab, cover all of a woman’s body except the face, hands, and feet. Although multiple companies sell these swimsuits, which retail for $100-$200, the one that has received the most media attention is the Australia-based brand Ahiida, which trademarked the name “Burqini.” The press around the world eagerly adopted this portmanteau of “burqa” and “bikini,” and generally refers to all full-body swimsuits marketed to modestly-dressing women as “burkinis.”