The Making of Eid’s “Muslim Met Gala” Looks

By Mana Faye

Published: Spring 2026

It’s 6:30am in March, and Khadija Ndiaye’s phone screen has been buzzing since Fajr, the first of the five mandatory prayers Muslims perform daily. Instagram messages from her clients,updates from her workshop in Dakar, and WhatsApp messages from her four-person team light up her screen from the moment she wakes up. Ndiaye, along with many other Muslim fashion business owners, is preparing for one of the busiest moments of the year: Eid, or what social media has newly dubbed “The Muslim Met Gala.”

Eid, which means festival in Arabic, marks the end of Ramadan, the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar. It’s a period of time in which over two billion Muslims worldwide abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset in order to reflect on their faith, practice self-discipline and exercise empathy for the less fortunate. At the end of the month, communities dress in their best traditional clothing, from abayas to thobes, to gather for communal prayers and family visits.

Ndiaye founded her company Jellabiya in 2019 after getting positive feedback about her own clothes and style. “People would constantly ask me where I got them,” she said. “When I told them I made them, they wanted one too.” The name directly translates to a loose-fitting,traditional garment from Egypt, but the designer pieces showcase a mix of traditional and modern styles across the various cultures. Ndiaye aims to serve an overlooked space: modest luxury fashion.

“A lot of options were either too simple, too limited, or didn’t feel fashion-forward enough,” she

said of the modest wear market. “I wanted to create pieces that made women feel beautiful and

refined while still feeling comfortable and true to themselves.”

Every Jellabiya piece is intentionally made in Senegal because of the brand’s dedication to

supporting local Senegalese artisans whose craftsmanship skills have been honed and passed

down through generations.

“I work closely with the workshop manager, the tailors, and the people supporting content and

operations,” Ndiaye says of her process. “From the first idea to the final garment, it really takes

collaboration, communication, and a shared understanding of the standard we want for the

brand.”

Eid, in particular, is a moment she doesn’t take for granted. “We know clients are looking for

pieces that feel special, beautiful, and memorable,” she said. “Eid fashion feels more emotional

to me… it’s tied to faith, celebration, family, and tradition.”

In February, Ndiaye hosted “The Jellabiya Iftar: New York Edition,” a sold-out event that

brought together over 300 attendees in celebration of both African and Black excellence. The

night marked the debut of Jellabiya’s 2026 Ramadan and Eid collection, alongside a menswear

line developed by creative director Baba Diop. The event, which was attended by creators such

as Amina Cocoa, Ndeye Peinda, and Kyra Theodore, also heralded a new chapter for Jellabiya.

Orders for the latest collection came flooding in just in time for the holiday.

A month and a half after the event, sitting in her makeshift living room-office, Ndiaye talks on

the phone with her workshop manager in Dakar while getting her kids dressed. (As a mother of

two, her days remain layered. “I’m doing a lot at once,” she said.)

Her design process begins more intuitively, usually with a feeling she wants the piece to capture.

“I think about the silhouette first, then the fabric, the details, and how I want it to fall on the

body,” she said. She mixes elegance, femininity, modesty and practicality to show that her

clothes can fit into both worlds.

One popular piece is the Rukia Bubu, which is described as an ideal piece for special occasions.

Made of organza and rare metallic brocade, it features ruffles, inner waist ties for a customizable

cinched waist, and a flowing silhouette. Another sought-after piece, the Awa Dress, is a floor-

length gown featuring a ruched waist and long flowing sleeves.

“It’s giving body, but it’s also giving modest,” said sister influencer duo The Yusufs in a reel

showing off their new pieces

.

This intentionality, though, is what Ndiaye believes draws people to the brand.

“I want women to feel beautiful, confident, comfortable, and elevated,” she said. “More than

anything, I want the pieces to make them feel seen.”