Aheda Zanetti is good at marketing. She has a knack for names. When Zanetti – a 48-year-old Australian who was born in Lebanon – invented a breathable garment that would make it easier for modestly dressing Muslim women to exercise, she called it a hijood, a portmanteau of hijab and hood. In 2004, Zanetti created a body-covering swimming costume, which she called a “burkini” – a portmanteau of burka and bikini. She lives in a western suburb of Sydney and worked as a hairdresser until she founded her company.
The story of the burkini – and how it first came to public attention – began on a beach. In December 2005 there were riots in the seaside suburb of Cronulla, southern Sydney, which started with a confrontation between young men of Lebanese origin and off-duty surf lifesavers. The tension spread and there were further riots in which people of foreign origin were singled out and abused, followed by retaliation. The government sought to bridge the divide and encouraged Surf Life Saving Australia to recruit Muslims. The organisation approached Zanetti. She adapted the burkini to fit their needs.
Content from our partners
