Toronto Raptors Release Team-Branded Nike Pro Hijab for the First Time
By Salma El Gogary
The Toronto Raptors have revealed the first team-branded Nike Pro Hijab which was inspired by the Hijabi Ballers, a local community group. The hijab features a Raptors claw on one side and the famous Nike tick on the other. The team took it to Instagram to reveal the news with a video showing members of the Hijabi Ballers, which is a Toronto-based athletic club that promotes Muslim women in sports, playing basketball.
The Toronto Raptors have claimed to be the first team in the National Basketball Association to offer an athletic hijab, which is part of their efforts to be more inclusive to fans of all cultures.
The Nike Pro Hijab was released in December 2017 and has seen significant interest in the lightweight head-piece. It was recently announced as one of the most searched for clothing intems in the world.
Nike has always strived to show their support of the Pro Hijab alongside a number of Muslim female athletes including “Ibtihaj Muhammad” An American fencer, “Zahra Lari” An Emirati figure skater, and “Amna Al Haddad” A UAE-based weightlifter. The female athletes took part in providing the brand with useful feedback and knowledge regarding their hijab pieces.
