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Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem

Recently Ive had the chance to try out another popular brand of overhead jelbab from France called Jelbab Al-Atlas. Ive mentioned before the other Jelbab brands coming out of France like El Bassira, Al Manassik, Al Moultazimoun. Al Moultazimoun is its own brand and is sold in its own store where as El Bassira, Al Atlas and Al Manassik are sold in various little boutiques and online shops.

Anyway, Al Atlas jelbabs are pretty similar to other brands, but Ive noticed a few differences.

So, the one I have on below I got from Akhawat.fr which is based in Tolouse and which carries both Al Atlas and El Bassira jelbabs. The one I have from them is a called a papillion or buttefly cut and it comes with a matching, very flaired, A-line skirt. The color seen below is called “saumon” but really, it looks more like a deep rose tone than a salmon tone-which is a bit more orangy.

Basically the papillion cut is available with all of the jelbab brands Ive named above…there is the papillion and then the regular cut which is more straight with sleeves. The papillion has the full width of the fabric and elastic cuffs (except al Moultazimoun which uses a straight cuff).

Anyway with the Al-Atlas brand, I guess the major differences are just with the elastic at the wrists, the elastic is more narrow and thin which personally, I like, as its easier to push the sleeves up for wearing under a coat, whereas the other brands use very thick elastic which can feel more binding when pushed up-I usually wear my coat over the jilbab for ease- also the Al Atlas brand has a much wider array of colors…of course they aren’t anything like Al Manassik with something like 26 or 28 shades but they are close! Right now the “trendy” colors are Teal, a pale violet, a pale pink and burgundy and they have all of these shades along with the more usual shades like khaki, beige, black, brown, navy and some other hybrid shades like grey-ish green. Personally I LOVE the color options…I prefer the jelbabs because not only do they cover in an ideal fashion but come in a nice array of colors so if one day I’m feeling like green I can wear green and then pink the next day. Mash’Allah.

Also the Al Atlas brand comes in basically two types of fabric. Peachskin and Microfiber (koshibo)…they have a new koshibo called microfiber d’Italie which is basically Italian koshibo. I lurrrrvvveee that fabric! Its next to the type what Al Moultazimoun uses…its sooo luscious…its very lightweight, airy, with a good drape and its not prone to static or wrinkles. It has the very minor gloss/sheen that all microfibers have and it lets air in. The Peachskin is OK but a bit thicker and stiffer and personally I think more of a fall/winter fabric whereas the koshibo-esp the Italian koshibo is suitable all year around. I also like how it doesnt make a scratchy sound around my ears when I am wearing it…also I just pop the sets in the washer and then the drier with a static sheet and voila…good to go.

I just wanted to share with you all my review of the Al Atlas brand of jelbab. I usually buy the type of 2 piece with the sleeve cut, but have been going more for the papillion cut as of late as it works equally well alone or under the jacket (sleeves pushed up) and they are easier to layer over a sweater if you choose…also I think they look sleeker. Also originally the color choices were the main draw for me. LOL.

As far as the shipping from France went. Akhawat does EMS and regular postal shipping. I did the regular postal shipping and it came in around 2 weeks. They are quite careful with shipping abroad and if you have any questions they will gladly answer them…oh and they know English which is a perk!