JOOJOO AZAD | جوجو آزاد

In my last post, we talked about offline marking strategies, most of which illustrated the importance of having business cards that stand out! A business card should be able to clearly express your brand/blog's purpose & include all the necessary contact information while still retaining visual clarity and aesthetic appeal.

Because designing the perfect business card can be a daunting task with a lot of importnace, I turned to my brother, Haneif, a professional graphic designer & artist to share a few strategies and tips for creating a business card that will never fail to wow~

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Hoda: What is something to always keep in mind while designing your business cards?

Haneif: Your audience. That is probably the most important thing, because it has to appeal to them more than anyone else. Although you do want your business cards to be universally appealing, your client is going to be your biggest source of income, so you need your business card to target them.

How about composition-wise?

Definitely keep negative space in mind—you don’t want it to look too empty, but it shouldn’t be too crowded either. It needs to be balanced. A business card can easily look unbalanced, fast so it’s important to pay attention to positive and negative space.

How would someone be able to tell if the card is unbalanced?

Flip your image horizontally and vertically in your image editing software in order to see it as if you’re looking into a mirror—this will give you a new perspective on any image you create. Also, try zooming out until you can’t see individual letters of text and just see black blocks. Squint your eyes and see if it feels balanced. If it doesn’t then move things around or shrink and resize the font or images until it feels balanced.

What is the most important component of a business card?

Your name and email address. It’s most important because the business card is about you—you are selling yourself, so you want to make sure it’s easy to read and the first thing you see.

What is the most common mistake made in designing a business card?

The size and placement of your name. It's the most common problem I've seen and it instantly makes thecardlook unprofessional. It's very important to use a font and color that's easy to read but also represents your brand.

Any tips for people who have zero graphic design experience?

When designing your first business card, start off with only what you need and nothing more. Start with the most important information: name, email address, and blog url. Then add other information that you want to include, one by one until it starts to reach a balance.

How about social media? As bloggers we have so much of it to include!

That's the thing, you have to decide what social media is most important so you don’t overwhelm your audience. Try to keep it down to your top 3 social media links. And if you’re having trouble deciding, look at which ones reflect where you’re at now—which ones are the most often updated? which do you maintain the most? etc.

Any final thoughts or suggestions?

Essentially, just start with the basic three things (name, email address, and url), start adding more information little by little until the ratio of positive to negative space is comfortable, then start playing around with the composition and sizing of all of the elements.

Hope you enjoyed the interview! Be sure to stay tuned, as we're also hosting a giveaway to two lucky readers to work with Haneif and design a business card for you that is sure to wow any audience!
(In the meantime, I've asked Haneif to stick around and answer any questions you may have for him in the comments, so be sure to leave your thoughts!)

"Blogging Tips" is a new series on JooJoo Azad started due to popular demand and is focused on helping bloggers grow their blogs and speak out on issues that matter to them. New posts are published every Sunday.

For more: { blogging tips series }

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Teamed up with my friends at Fajr Army to shoot their new نور (noor, meaning "light" in Arabic) floral shirt! I also got the chance to break out my manteau from Iran--clearly a sign that I'm longing to return. Only about 39 more days to go before we (me, the blog, & therefore you) get to return to the motherland! So, it's pretty exciting. Like this shirt.

Also, welcome to my front porch.

The weather has been nothing but crying grey skies of late, so taking photos outdoors would have been difficult. And cold. And wet. So we decided to use my front porch as a way to get around the sporadic raining while still take advantage of that natural light. I think I like how they turned out--it also has a sort of "hi yes I'm coming into your home" sort of feel. Which I suppose is a bit creepy but you know, as is life~

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{ Location: My front porch! | Photos: Alex Jung | نور (noor) floral tee c/o Fajr Army | Trench/Manteu: Iran | Trousers: Zara | Sandals: c/o Zappos }

Impending finals means taking extra time to have fun with editing outfit shoots/collages, right? Are any of you still in school? Good luck with final exams! xx

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P.S. Thank you so much to Kat for all of her kind words in my interview on her site!

Fashion giants Ralph Lauren, Forever 21, Michael Kors, & others have been linked to major deforestation & human and labor rights violations and it's about time we stand up for justice. In this post, we are going to spill the details and give you 5 ways to take action!

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Eucalyptus logs waiting to be picked up after forestation in Brazil / Source

THE PROBLEM

Last time we talked about deforestation, it was in the context of the Deadly Truth About Palm Oil, and how this was leading to the violent deaths of tens of thousands of endangered orangutans (warning, graphic image).
Deforestation is also highly entangled with the issue of human rights abuses: in many cases the government is pushing already marginalized communities off their lands, usually with the use of force or violence. Not to mention that this whole fiasco contributes to climate change and the expediency of the extinction of several endangered species.

And last Monday, Ralph Lauren in particular was singled out at a major fashion event in New York City, where activists from the Rainforest Action Network (RAN) held a protest.

Senior Campaigner at the RAN, Brihannala Morgan, says:
“Ralph Lauren is being singled out because as a luxury fashion brand of its scale, they are a leader in the industry, and the company needs to step up. Ralph Lauren uses a huge volume of forest fabrics in its clothing lines, and without a strong policy in place, it can not guarantee that its fabrics are not driving deforestation and negatively affecting the livelihoods of communities on the ground.

“There are some brands that are taking action on this issue, like H&M and Stella McCartney, but Ralph Lauren isn’t one of them. As one of the biggest fashion brands in the world, Ralph Lauren has the ability and resources to ensure that human rights abuses and forest destruction won’t be a part of their next collection.”

TAKING NAMES

The Perpetrators:

Abercrombie and Fitch
Guess
Forever 21
Velvet
Limited Brands (Victoria's Secret, The Limited, etc)
Under Armour
Foot Locker
Gaiam
Beyond Yoga
Prada Group (Prada, Miu Miu, etc)
Vince
Tory Burch
Michael Kors
Ralph Lauren
LVMH (Dior, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, etc)

*cough* *cough* I haven't finished with all of the detailed brand profiles from the Boycott List, but don't you see quite a bit of overlap ours and this one provided by RAN?

The Victims:

The endangered forests of...

Indonesia
Canada
Brazil
& other countries around the world

TAKING ACTION/DEMANDING CHANGE

The time to stand up and take action is now.

Soviet campaign poster against deforestation / Source

1. Boycott | here at JooJoo Azad, we (the blog & I) are pretty big proponents of boycotts. Simply put, the power is in the money, and the money is in our hands. (we've talked about this, remember?) Make a commitment not to purchase from these brands until they have committed to production methods that are not destructive to the world and the people within it.

2. Join the campaign | our friends over at Out of Fashion, a RAN campaign, are inviting you to join their campaign demanding change & committing to becoming "all in to protect the forests!"

3. Make an important lifestyle changes | along with boycotts, we encourage a transition to a Minimal Wardrobe, meaning a wardrobe not that is stylistically black and white and grey like the skies of Chicago, but rather one that is physically minimal and less rooted in keeping up with the infinite seasons/trends of fashion. We're also hoping to launch a monthly ethical living challenge newsletter, so you should also get on that...once we do..and finally launch it. #ughfinals

4. Learn more | the Rainforest Action Network has several great resources to further our understanding of the situation, that are definitely worth the read! In particular, I recommend The Human Cost of Forest Fabric!

5. Educate | knowledge is made for sharing. Especially when it involves large, heavily omni-present industries/corporations and little public transparency. Share this post on Twitter or Facebook or Pintrest (added bonus--we instantly become bffs...actually I think my friends might disagree that this is a "bonus" than a punishment, but, details...) or if you're not ready for a new friend commitment (I'm low maintenance, I promise!), talk about this issue with people who already have the honor of calling you their friend/family. Make a commitment to have 5 conversations this next week about ethical fashion/deforestation. Awareness is key!

P.S. If you are in the activist-y mood (the best mood to be in), also be sure to check out all of the noise my university's Students for Health Equity (SHE) campaign is making about pressuring the university to open an adult level trauma center. Nine students yesterday were forcibly removed from an administrative building and arrested. Listen to what they have to say.

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Last Sunday, we interviewed graphic designer Haneif Katebi and chatted about the importance of business cards for blogging/general life. Now, we're giving you the chance to enter to win & have your cards designed for free--by a professional!

Business cards are absolutely necessary for any offline brand growth or networking, and they serve as a first impression to your brand and image. With such little space and so much information to include, making a business card aesthetically pleasing while conveying a message about yourself is not an easy task--especially if you have little graphic design experience. And yet, it's so important.

Haneif has offered to work with the winner of this giveaway to create a winning business card design that both accurately expresses your brand/blog and attracts your target audience!

Giveaway ends June 22nd 12:00am and is open internationally!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best of luck! x

For more resources on how to design your own business card, take a look at Haneif's interview!

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Image Source: Pintrest

If you are looking for a post defining how you should dress based on a uniform of omg-everyone-go-buy-white-and-black-and-grey-shirts, this post is not for you. If you're just looking for someone to tell you to buy things in general, this post is not for you. Rather, these are the 5 necessary items a wardrobe needs in the context of the minimalist wardrobe project. They are non-material and universally applicable.
Wearing clothes that makes you happy is incredibly important. Dressing according to a rubric, not so much. Below are 5 "things" that are essential to own & wear. Everyday.

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Image via The Merry Thought

1. Confidence | your wardrobe should be used as a tool of self-empowerment. Wear anything and everything that makes you feel great and take control of your life--not what is just "appropriate" for your body type. Embracing and loving your body will make anything you wear look amazing.

2. Simile | actually the best thing ~~a woman~~ anyone can wear. And that should be worn daily. The world can be your runway, but that doesn't mean you have to glare at everyone as you walk down it. Instantly brightens your "look." Bonus points if you make someone else smile, too.

3. Intelligence | us women are brilliant. Don't be afraid to wear your intelligence and speak out and speak up. Psychological studies have indicated that while women generally have better ideas and input in the workplace, they don't voice or articulate them while men with less-ideal ideas speak up and win the day. Whether you wear a blazer or a dress to work, you should always take your voice--and smarts--with you.

4. Warmth | a coat warms your outsides, but you have to make sure your insides are warm too.

5. Bad-Assery |this is a real word. Trust me. And trust me when I say you're beyond amazing. Therefore, you shouldn't be afraid to get yourself out there and make shit happen. Support other women. Break the glass ceiling & drink men's tears. An essential you need to own. Like a white shirt. Except better. (much better).

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- if you enjoyed this post, please share! Thank you! -

Oh hi there. Welcome to the wood that is my back porch. And welcome to Arabic-script clothing that doesn't spell "You're a Donkey" while translating it into "You're Beautiful." (lol #classic, Lindsey Loahn). Also, I was apparently totally re-living my tree-climbing days in my youth. Yeah, that's right. I used to ~~be a professional~~ tree-climber. Now I suppose it's just restricted to whatever is in between me and the camera, heh.

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{ photos: Alex | location: my back porch! | shirt: c/o Fajr Army | boots: c/o Zappos | cardigan & jeans: Morocco }

Their shirt design has changed since they sent this one to me, but they still have some pretty sweet tees in stock so be sure to check them out!

Also don't forget that you still have time to enter to win a custom business card design for your blog/brand by a professional graphic designer!

P.S. To make sure your tour of my porches is complete, you probably should also see the shoot on my front porch!

P.P.S. Bonus points to whoever can identify the photo where I realize I just got a splinter and am meticulously picking at it...Alex truly really has a talent for capturing the best~

P.P.P.S I've also made my snapchat public: @hodakay | It was mostly depressing snaps of me slowly dying alongside my final papers #finalsweek but I've decided to make it a bit more uplifting and now am regularly posting mini moral-boosters, so if you enjoy happy things feel free to add me! :)

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6 finals, 3 all-nighters, and many post-midnight dessert runs later and I'm finished with my 3rd year of undergraduate studies at the University of Chicago. Currently en route back to Oklahoma to visit the family before heading off to Germany and Iran and taking you with me! ;)

Everyone always tells you that college goes by quickly, but you never can really truly understand what that means until you're in it and experiencing that for yourself. And let me tell you: it's honestly terrifying. I've learned and grown so much during my time here but I can't help but feel a bit lost and anxious when I think that at this time next year I'll never be an undergrad again, or that I'll be older than college students. What a concept.

Anyway, they're starting boarding for my final flight to Oklahoma so gotta run! I'll put together a little list of more coherent thoughts and feels and things learned while my head is in the clouds (literally).

Take care and see you tomorrow for a really exciting interview with the lovely lady who designed this site! She'll be introducing us to, and helping us with, the beautiful world of web design! ♡

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We've already discussed how important a clean blog design is for attracting and maintaining readership, so now we're chatting with minimalist blog layout designer Eve who is sharing tips and advice for those interested in designing their own layouts on Blogger or Wordpress!

Eve runs the Mango Blog Shop where she sells beautiful minimalist layouts for blogger and wordpress as well as small custom alterations (related posts widget, etc), all at an incredibly affordable price (all her layouts are under $12!). She is the uber talented designer behind this site and worked with me to perfect all the details that I had dreamt up, and I really appreciate the work that she does, both going into her designs and helping her clients! Today I've invited her to share a bit of insight into her work and field as a minimalist web designer!

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Hoda Katebi |Where do you typically draw inspiration from in your blog designs?

Eve M | Colorful photography, music, books. So many of my designs are inspired by my favorite songs and books. Example: my "Marjorie" theme was inspired by Jack & Jack's "Wild Life".

HK |Any suggested resources or suggestions for those of us with zero or very little experience in web design?

EM | If you're looking for design tutorials, Google is your best friend. I don't have any particular blogs that I go to; I just search for Blogger tutorials until I find something interesting and start experimenting.

HK |What would you say is the most important element of a blog's design?

EM | For me, that would be the header (in most cases). It's usually the first thing I notice and if it's pretty enough, I'll want to take a look at the rest of the blog.

HK |Is there something that you tend to see too much of in blog design? Or, to put it another way, what would you like to see less of in blog designs?

EM | Cluttered sidebars. Unless something is important for the owner of the blog and they want their readers to pay attention, it has no place in the sidebar (my opinion, of course). Twitter timelines, Facebook widgets... I'm not a big fan. Most of the time it's very unattractive and the more useless widgets a blog has, the longer it will take to load. I like to see only the most important things - social icons, a search box, a way to subscribe, maybe popular posts or an Instagram widget. Some kind of introduction of the owner of the blog.

HK |What is the hardest thing about your job?

EM | Answering messages. Sometimes there are too many and I want to get back to everyone with answers (especially people who are having problems) as soon as possible. I love helping, but I whenever I have too many messages to answer in one day, I don't have any time to work on a new design.

HK |Are there a lot of women in your field? Why or why not?

EM | I've actually never wondered about this. Although, most of the designers whose work I've seen are women.

HK |What is the number one thing beginners in web design should keep in mind?

EM | Take as much time as you need to design it. Quality is the most important thing. Test it on different blogs. At this point, it's also good if your designs are responsive - so many people use their phones/tablets to read blogs now (including me). Even if it takes you weeks, even months, making something people will enjoy using and enjoy looking at is worth it.

Hope you enjoyed the interview! If you'd like to get in touch with Eve, you can do so via the Mango Blog Shop, Twitter, Pintrest, or Email!

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A guide for the cool kids.
With Father’s Day right around the corner and gift guides being put together left and right with brands that are from the Boycott List, here is your official alternative guide to the men's department! Also a great resource to bookmark and save for anyone who enjoys ethics and aesthetics (well-designed ethical clothing for men is honestly *so* hard to find!) (A lot of these brands also sell women's clothing, too!).

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1. Brothers We Stand: Alec Bizby Handmade Kimono Cardigan | The rad men at this London-based menswear brand label fast fashion as "rubbish" and are devoted to transparency, ethical progress, quality clothing, "stand out ethical behavior," and high labor standards. Essentially, what we're trying to say is that they are totally amazing.

2. Hudson Jeans: Blinder Biker Jeans | Complete with a dedication to unaltered models, Hudson Jeans are "born and raised in Los Angeles" and only use denim of the highest quality and ethics. Also here is a photo of their CEO holding a bicycle at a bike-building event for at-risk youth.

3. Veja: Volley White Nautico | I discovered this brand last month and it was definitely love at first sight. They are essentially a cooler, more beautiful, and ethical version of Nike/Adidas (both of which are on the boycott list!). These kicks are made from organic cotton and are able to keep their prices under control and within an affordable range by making a no-advertisement pledge. How rad is that?! (very).

4. Nau: Shwood Francis Sunglasses | Not only are these sunglasses throwing shade on fast-fashion by making sustainability their standard, but they also donate 2% of every sale to Partners for Change!

5. Everlane: Twill Weekender | I am so much in love with the transparency of these wonderful people: scroll down below each product and they list--to the penny--the cost of everything from labor and materials to duties and transportation. Why is this impossible for all other brands, again?

Looking for something for ladies? Here are 6 (Ethical) Stores You'll Love as Much as Zara, or, better yet, 6 Rad Handmade Brands Made By & For Strong Women!

Any ethical menswear brands you recommend?

-If you enjoyed this post don't forget to share it with your coolest male friends!-
SHARE ON FACEBOOK | TWEET ON TWITTER | PIN ON PINTREST

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Splashing around in colors and prints under the sun back home in Oklahoma has never felt so good. Teamed up with one of my favorite ethical brands--MATTER PRINTS--to bring you patterned pants that support artisans around the world continue their traditional craft and become financially independent. Could hand-crafted and ethical ever look more beautiful?

Matter Print's pants are bright, colorful, and always the first thing anyone will notice--they are as loud and impactful as their mission:"to inspire consumers to value provenance – to ask of the where and why something is made, and champion alternative production models for textile artisans to expand their economic opportunities"

Aside from the pair I'm wearing (which are super light, soft, comfortable, breezy, and loose--a perfect ally against the summer heat (especially handy on my upcoming trip to Iran)!) and the pair I featured in my post 6 (Ethical) Brands You'll Love as Much as Zara, here are a few of my favorites:

Modern Monpe + Trikora | The Sideswept Dhoti + Gradiente | The Sunday Overalls + Kangura Charcoal

A brand that is beautiful inside and out--and definitely worth supporting!

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Happy Ramadan to my Muslim family, friends, and readers!

Last year I put together a Ramadan 101 post explaining the purpose of this month for anyone who would like to learn more about this incredibly rewarding experience. I also encourage you to try it out for a day or two (the first day is always the hardest!) if you have never experienced a day of fasting before. Click on over to the post to read about a few things that you can expect to learn while experiencing real hunger.

For those of you who are observing Ramadan this year, here are a few helpful links I've found!
+ 27 Foods to Eat at Suhoor that Release Energy Throughout the Day
+ 10 Time Management Tips for Ramadan 2015
+ 7 Nutrition Tips for Ramadan Fasting

ALSO //
I want to finish up answering those last set of questions you all asked me about Islam + continue to try to answer anything that is on your mind, especially since ISIS is continuing to make headlines, China is refusing to let Muslims fast, and France is...well France is still being their xenophobic selves.
So, without further ado, I've re-opened the anonymous ask (also copied below) so you can fire away! I'll be uploading my responses to my youtube channel ( http://bit.ly/hodadoesyoutube ) everyday!

Ramadan Kareem/Ramadan Mubarak/Happy Ramadan to all who are observing!
And for those of you who are not religious, I hope you also have a wonderful month ahead full of self-reflection and growth!

Here in southern United States we'll be waking up at 3:45am to start the day (okay and promptly falling back asleep after eating and finishing morning prayers) and abstaining from food & drink until 9:30pm. How about where you have to live?

For those of you who are more new to Ramadan, is there anything you are curious about? Ask!

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image source: tumblr

A moment of silence honoring the victims of institutionalized racism, domestic terrorism, and white male supremacy.

Rev. Clementa Pickney, 41, pastor & father of two

Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, 45, track coach & mother of three

Cynthia Hurd, 54, public librarian

Tywanza Sanders, 26, recent university graduate & barber

Ethel Lance, 70, grandmother & "heart of the family"

Susie Jackson, 87, grandmother

Rev. Daniel Simmons, 74, retired pastor

Myra Thompson, 59, mother

Rev. Depayne Middleton, 49, doctor & mother of four

The pain of losing such cherished community and family members is unfathomable, and the victims and their families will remain in my thoughts and prayers this Ramadan.

Photos via Aljazeera

I'm not so eloquent in times of distress, but my friend wrote a really well-written article that I encourage you to read: "Charleston is Proof that America is Only Digging Itself Deeper into a Hole it Refuses to Escape" as well as the Stories of the Nine Senselessly Killed in Charleston

And to my black friends and readers living in the USA, please take care and be safe.

Especially from the police.

In solidarity,

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I'm putting this together for a number of reasons: first, to show that pageviews does not translate into income (the blogger with the second to last number of pageviews made the most money!), that a single monetization strategy does not work for everyone, there are bloggers at all different places when it comes to income, and to show my mom that I'm not crazy when I say that I could possibly live off my blog.

(you are free/encouraged to show this to your moms, too)

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1. Smart Passive Income | (April 2015) Income: $123,853.51 / Pageviews: 41,537 / Largest source of income: Various affiliate programs

2. By Regina | (January 2015) Income: $15,000 / Pageview: 139,346 / Largest source of income: Hosting a blogging class

3. The Chaos and the Clutter | (January 2015) Income: $3,499.68 / Pageviews: 6,958,505 / Largest source of income: Advertisements

4. Mostly Morgan | (April 2015) Income: $668.75 / Pageviews: 299,691 / Largest source of income: Izea

5. Olyvia | (November 2014) Income: $92.44 / Pageviews: 3,125 / Largest source of income: Bluehost affiliate

It's still rather beyond my comprehension that a blog can bring in 6 figures in a single month with under 6 figure pageviews, but, hey, Pat Flynn of Smart Passive Income got talent. He also has a rad podcast for bloggers that I recommend you check out! Each blogger also shares more in-depth strategies for how they earned the income that they did, which can be rather helpful/inspirational! In the meantime, you can start out by reading 8 Ways to Make Ca$h Money From Your Blog!

What are your thoughts on blog monetization? Are you earning money from your blog? I'd be so curious to hear!

For more: { blogging tips series }

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T-7 days remaining until Germany and T-17 days until Iran! I would be sitting on the edge of my seat if it wasn't Ramadan and trying to balance myself on the edge of anything requires more energy than I can muster, so maybe saying that I'm laying on the couch in anticipation is more accurate. I've never been to Germany before (nor do I speak any German when I'm detached from my friends at Google Translate) but I'm really rather excited to see some family before heading over to Iran to see...more family (and conduct research for my B.A. thesis)! Huzzah! (This means more streetstyle for you!). I'm also collaborating with a few Iranian photographers, stylists, and designers so be sure to #watchthisspace! I also recently started a little Iranian Culture/Art/Fashion Pintrest Board that shall be frequently updated if you are like me and just can't hold your excitement~

I centered this mood board around an absolutely beautiful ethical brand I recently discovered--Kowtow Clothing--and their 100% organic cotton Revolution Dress! Gotta love a brand that knows their shapes and their free shipping! Yes, it seems that summer always gets me out of my usual pattern play and into something that seems to visually weigh less.
And yes, I, like you, am also surprised there is virtually no black on this board, as it's usually my go-to summer color. Because that's logical, yah?

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Q01: "I don't feel like women are treated very well in the religion of Islam. Why is that?"

Classic.

I get so many variations of this question--with varying level of politeness, of course--and I suppose it's about time to roll up my sleeves and answer this one, given that I'm already about a week behind schedule (the Iranian is late? Surprise, surprise...) getting to the questions you've left me via emails, blog comments, twitter, etc, since agreeing to answer your questions everyday during Ramadan 2015.

I was initially planning on doing a video series but 5 attempts and a lot of poor lighting later, I finally gave up on that endeavor--at least until I move to Iran for the summer (T-2 weeks!)--I've concluded that Oklahoma isn't the best place for ~~flattering~~ natural lighting. Or politics.

So, for now these will be in text format. (your eyes will forgive me).
Let's get right into it, shall we?

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Part of the idea that women are treated poorly in Islam is purely perception. But, unfortunately, there is a degree of reality to this conception. The reality is that there is this thing called the patriarchy (that needs to be dismantled--asap) and unfortunately it is pretty hella strong and it is strongly rooted in the Middle East, as it is throughout the USA, Europe and the rest of the world. This same patriarchy that is oppressing women in the "West" is also alive and doing well in the "East," but because Western media does not like to represent the East and the West in a similar manner (Edward Said's Orientalism has a few words to say here--a great read by the way and highly recommended) so it seems as if this issue of women's subjugation is purely an "Eastern" thing when it is in fact, unfortunately, a global issue.

Another source of this misconception I think I can attribute to the extremism of Saudi Arabia and ISIS, and many onlookers ignorant of Islam conflating their actions with Islam, when, it is clearly nothing farther from it. Doing so is comparable to using the crusades of early Christianity or the Westboro Baptist Church to understand Christianity or Zionism and the terror of Israel as a manifestation of Judaism--in all examples faith is being used as a tool to grow power and publicity, rather than acting as a product of faith itself, and therefore I think it would be rather unfair to conflate the two.

In fact, Islam actually promotes the status of women. When the religion was brought down to the Arab tribes in the 7th century, it ended the cultural practice of killing female children and gave women the right to marry and divorce whoever they want, own and sell property, and even the right to vote. So that was like, major, given that women in the USA weren't even allowed to vote until the 1920 (and you're saying Islam oppresses women?! ha!). Not to mention that throughout the Qur'an women and men are repeatedly described as equals.

I mean, it's difficult to get more clear than that.

TL;DR: The patriarchy sucks, it is a global institution not specific to the Middle East, and it oppresses women. Not Islam.

As a feminist I approve this message.

If you have any follow-up questions (or any other questions not related to this topic) pleeeease feel free to drop a line below (I'm fully committed to JooJoo Azad being a safe space--anything horrible will be immediately removed--trust me, I work fast (my phone is glued to my hands)) or hide away your identity and leave one anonymously and I will try to answer anything that is on your mind to the best I can!

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If you enjoyed this post, please share! With knowledge comes understanding & with understanding comes love!

(& We all love love.)

I feel like blogging has fallen into the capitalist mode of production: quantity over quality. Keywords and numbers of reasons why someone should do something* are systematically slapped together, materials of which were ripped off another blogger's stolen work. Titles manipulated to disguise the lack of words, only aimed at growing pageviews and followers, rather than readers.

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Can't say that I hadn't tried it out myself once or twice, just as everyone wants to play in capitalists' game of fast-fashion--hey, we all love immediate albeit temporary satisfaction for little cost--fast-blogging seemed a guarantee to a quick fix on feeling successful. A couple silly posts hit record pageviews but left me with few reader relationships and fewer time on my own hands left to work on projects that inspired me. I invest (quite a bit of) time (whatever little I have as a university student aka expert procrastinator) into every blog post, and after an academic quarter/2.5 months of committing to blogging every other day (& failing, of course--as a Persian, time-commitments and deadlines don't compute) and making JooJoo Azad my part-time job, I realized that the biggest thing holding me back from executing all of the exciting projects I had dreamt up (& truly growing my blog) was, in fact, making sure that my blog was on schedule. Which is kind of silly, if you really think about it.

Simply put, the JooJoo Azad (for those of you new to the show this means "Free Bird" in Farsi, and, contrary to popular belief, is not my name) had caged itself.

Now that I'm really committed to a number of major projects and collaborations, I don't think committing to posts every other day would be sustainable (for either of us). In the words of one of my favorite bloggers, Jen of JennyPurr, "Make yourself smaller so you can make yourself bigger."
So well-said.
And I think it is only after 2.5 months of making this mistake that I've really learned what that means. Not to mention this means less burnout and writers block.

So, I'm committing to two posts every week, with each post being something worth your (and my) time. Deal?

If you're interested in slow blogging & want to learn more be sure to check out Jen's Slow Blogging for Creatives and the Slow Blog Manifesto.

*Okay maybe I was a bit too harsh. Numbers in titles seems like a current blogging fad but I'm kind of a fan. My life is organized into lists.

TL;DR: Fast blogging is like capitalism. I am not a capitalist and therefore I will no longer embrace it. What I will embrace though, are quality posts and thinking ahead/sustainably. Also, apparently I understand everything through politics.

I honestly would love to hear from you. Are you a fan? Have you thought about slow-blogging?

P.S. Keep the questions on Islam coming--they are all so interesting so far!

<(')

P.S. I'll be in Germany in two days(!!!!). Come along!

Open almost any magazine or fashion publication today and you'll be able to find the "right" clothes “for your body shape,” using various fruit and vegetable analogies to feign a level of politeness: are you a pear or an apple this time?

This post basically is here to say that this is all just a bunch of B.S, and why we need to move past the conception of "flattering" clothes.

Concession: as a thin and oh-so-slightly above average height (I’d like to think so) petite girl, I’m speaking from a place of privilege. Who am I to tell the rest of the fruits and vegetables of the world that they should embrace the bodies that the rest of society refuses to do? (Sure, I've experienced ostracization as a Muslim woman in the USA, but never because of my figure). So, I'd like to admit my privilege in this conversation and put it out there for you to consider while reading this.

(But that doesn’t mean stop reading—you’re not off the hook just yet)

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Photo via Refinery29

Alright. Still with me? You’re great.

The conception that we should constantly be buying “flattering” clothes is based on a standardized idea of what beauty is—and, therefore, what it is not. The thin white girl with the curves in the right places and a waist you can put a keychain around still takes home the cake (but, of course, she just can’t eat it)—and flattering clothes are media’s conceptions of what can bring you closer to this ideal.

And I quote.

“Oval-shaped women hold most of their excess weight around the middle [thanks for that discovery, Sherlock]…chances are you have a good-sized bust so there are plenty of ways to draw the eye away from the waistline”

Yeah, um, how about not.

It seems we’ve (a “we” that is rooted in the patriarchy, btw…as is the oppression of women globally but just blamed on Islam…) become all too comfortable on giving women orders on how to dress and what to look like. In focusing all of our attention on outward appearances, of course it’s what is most important (aka character & intellect) that is often forgotten to cultivate. (All part of the patriarchy’s master plan, ladies).

Using “flattering” as a rubric for dress, us women are pushed to squeeze our waists and pump our rear ends (or whatever the kids are doing these days) in order to perpetuate society's conception of ideal beauty--a conception that women must consistently strive for but will never reach. Certain jeans are off-limits to tomatoes or styles of dresses for carrots--all because it won't help you mold and hide parts of your body that are hindering you from reaching that golden bar of beauty.

But reaching (and breaking) the glass ceiling is far more important, I think.

Of course, definitely not insinuating here that we should all go out and run around in paper bags, or even to stop wearing things that "fit," but rather to reinterpret and redefine your style based on what makes you personally feel wonderful and confident so you can take on the world. (Like these wardrobe essentials). It's not what makes your waist 2 sizes smaller that is important than what lets you move past a society that encourages women to be obsessed with fitting rubrics.
On JooJoo Azad we're also moving forward together on a minimal wardrobe project in order to lessen our attachment to, and dependence on, material goods (clothing) in general as a preoccupation of our lives.

TL;DR: Screw society's standards of beauty. Wear whatever makes you personally happy and confident. Wear what defines you as a person, not hides you as an object.

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P.S. This post was inspired by me trying to be productive in a 12hr layover in Dusseldorf (…for a flight to Hamburg…even though I probably could have walked there in 12 hours…) and thinking about my upcoming research in Iran. If you’re also interested in women’s bodies as the center of politics (via fashion, of course), stick around because I’ll be sharing some findings on this space!

P.P.S Not into words? Then follow along on Instagram or Snapchat (@hodakay)!

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One of the most-asked questions I’ve received since opening up the blog for questions: What is this thing—Jihad—that are causing Muslims around the world to be violent in the name of holy war?

Heh, okay, let’s break it down, shall we? It’s really quite simple, and probably not what you’ve heard on your television screens.

Jihad means “struggle.” Nothing more, nothing less.

A struggle with oneself internally, a struggle against injustice, a struggle against tyranny.

Jihad does NOT mean, on the other hand holy-war-against-so-called-infidels-that-all-Muslims-are-supposed-to-do-so-Christians-should-be-scared-of-their-Muslim-neighbors-and-kill-recent-college-graduates-over-a-supposed-parking-spot.

Yeah. How about not.

While my neighbors are still probably scared of me and my family regardless (gotta love the racism in the south!), I think it’s important to note that we Muslims are in fact quite friendly (and dare I say quite dashing). But let’s not get too off topic for once.

There are really two types of Jihad: internal and external.

The greatest/major Jihad mentioned in the Qur’an (the Muslim holy book) is the internal struggle with ones full self and soul in order to constantly self-improve: continually stand up for justice, become more truthful and sincere, and overcome vices and weaknesses. It involves a transformation of one’s character, overcoming an obstacle, and deep self-reflection. This is the Jihad that you don’t really hear about in mainstream news yet serves as the greatest Jihad for Muslims.

What you do hear, on the other hand, and quite over-excessively, is the mention of the external “Jihad of the sword.” This jihad, or struggle, is not described with the same level of value or importance than jihad an-nifs (Jihad of the self) has within the Qur’an. This Jihad is in reference to using violence—if absolutely necessary—in order to overthrow injustice. Today in mainstream media this is taken out of context (surprise, surprise) and therefore is an incorrect understanding of what the term really means.

This external Jihad is used in the Qur’an in the context of the time when Muslim communities were being attacked on all sides (think: the crusades (these were of course much later but you get the point)) and needed to defend itself. But the key here is that this is not the same as an unprovoked aggression or holy war that western media makes it out to be.
External Jihad is mentioned in the Qur'an in a highly particular and specific context from which it should not be separated.

Of course, as any part of any text, there are the select few nutcases that misinterpret what they read (or just hear), and, coupled with their own personal insanity and pressures, crack. Think: ISIS. Think: Israeli Zionsim. Think: France banning headscarves in schools aka taking away rights in the name of religious freedom.

But I think you’ll be glad to know that most Muslims (well I say all Muslims as ISIS or the Saudi Arabian government, for example, don’t count as real Muslims, technically speaking according to the Qur’an) understand the true meaning of Jihad. So much that some of us (Muslims cooler than me, clearly) made a hashtag (#MyJihad) about it.

And a neat-o website that I just discovered.

If you’re still confused/would like testimonials + examples please feel free to take full advantage of the above hyperlinks. ^_^

I know this was a large chunk of text to get through and mostly just a simple overview, so if you have any follow-up or clarification questions, please don't hesitate to ask! Or, if this sparked any other non-related-to-Jihad-which-you-now-know-is-actually-basically-a-peaceful-thing questions, feel free to ask in the comments below!

This week I finally get to move to Tehran, start my research, shoot some streetstyle, and work on some really exciting projects! Can’t wait to share everything with you on this space! (And Instagram!)

<(')

Special thanks to Tahir, my university’s spiritual advisor and friend for helping me with the deets of this question. :)

-If you enjoyed this post and think it could help others understand a misunderstood concept, please share! Thank you!-

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1. DISCOUNT STORES AREN’T REAL | Sorry to break it to you like this (usually I would at least bring tea and stuff), but outlet malls claiming to sell you designer products are really just selling you lower-quality products—which were most likely not even produced at the same factories as the originals. Jezebel writes:

“The jig is up: Big brands like J. Crew, Gap, and Saks’ Off 5^th aren’t selling you discounted or out of season merchandise at their outlet locations. You’re just buying lower quality cardigans and patterned pants” (they just have the logos to make you think you're getting a "deal").

Why is this relevant? Now you really can’t justify all those extra trips to the outlet mall/TJMaxx/etc to buy “bargains.” You’re buying low-quality products and exploited labor. (How else could the prices be so cheap?) (Oh and P.S. I’m also not letting you justify shopping at the original J.Crew or GAP store, either—they are on our Boycott List! I’m letting you justify limiting your spending in general ;) )

2. FAST FASHION ISN’T MADE TO LAST LONG | Alright this one might come as a huge shocker to you, (are you ready for this?) but fast-fashion brands really like this thing called profits. Like, a lot. So much so that they purposely use the cheapest production method (read: exploitation + unfair wages, poor quality materials, etc) in order to a) be able to convince you to buy lots of things (omg! so cheap!! *grabs 10*) and b) need to continually buy lots of things. The faster your clothes fall apart, the faster you’re going to want a replacement. Or 10. The solution? Think quality over quantity. Adopt a minimalist wardrobe.

3. WHAT YOU’RE WEARING IS FILLED WITH LEAD | Okay a bit dramatic (blame the Persian in me). I should add a “probably” in there. In any regard, the facts still stand: the Center for Environmental Health declares that many popular house-hold fast-fashion brands such as Forever21 and Charlotte Russe continue to produce products in mass that fail to meet their safety standards for lead p.p.m. (which is already generously high). This is particularly important for women who are planning on giving birth, as lead likes to store itself in our bones and, during pregnancy, come out to play with our fetus, which could be potentially harmful. Lead concentration also seems to be higher in bright, shiny products. (Sort of explains Dory’s forgetfulness in Finding Nemo, doesn’t it?)

4. HUMANS (& THE ENVIRONMENT) WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING | There are still millions of slaves working behind the scenes throughout the world—in fact, according to Slaveryfootprint.org, today we have more slaves than we’ve ever had at any other point in time in history! So that’s, like insane. We can thank the fashion industry for playing its part in keeping slavery alive and well. And to be frank, we can thank ourselves too. We are so disconnected with the production process, it’s hard to fathom that hundreds of humans are behind every piece of clothing that we see. Most of which are living in unbearable living conditions—and many others are living but not alive. But we need to continually strive to remind ourselves and our friends and family of this. Boycottingbrands and limiting our consumption is incredibly important. Now more than ever.

5. CLOTHES DON’T DISAPPEAR WHEN YOU THROW THEM OUT | Okay you probably knew this one. But the way that we act makes it seem like we forget that clothes, when out of sight, aren’t out of existence. According to The Atlantic, on average, Americans throw away 10.5 million tons of clothing every. single year. Can’t we just think about this for a minute? That is a ton. No, actually 10.5 million tons, to be precise. And guess what? Thanks to our current uber-capitalist society, we have become addicted to consuming and therefore this number is only rising. Clothes don’t disappear. Remember that next time you go shopping.

Frustrated? Do something about it. Boycott. Consume less. Educate yourself and others. Convert your closet to a minimal wardrobe. Limiting your spending in a capitalist society is a revolutionary act in itself.

The fact that you’re reading this right now means that you at least sort of give a damn (or just like visiting my site and making me happy (thanks!)) in which case, change really starts with you. If you don’t take charge of your consumption then who will? Next time you are thinking about heading out for a shopping trip, keep these 5 things in mind~

<(')

P.S. If you are missing the more regular posting and say down with Slow Blogging (too bad because I love it) you can join me in my research of the Iranian fashion scene on my Instagram! (@hodakatebi)

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original image via Simon Freund

While simultaneously working on researching the politics of fashion in Iran for my B.A. thesis this past month or so, I’ve been able to take my camera with me while absent-mindedly wandering the streets of Iran (apparently this is called something along the lines of being frightfully lost, but, details…). I’ve dropped a few hints here and there on my social media and a few interviews I’ve done these past few weeks, but I guess it’s time to officially announce on JooJoo Azad that I’m working on publishing (the first of its kind!) Tehran Streetstyle photo collection book! I’m rather thrilled and I really can’t wait to share it with you all!

The book will begin pre-sale in less than three weeks (!!!!), so be sure to subscribe to my email list (you like rarely get emails from me so it’s definitely worth it!) and follow along on Instagram (@hodakatebi) to be one of the first in line to grab your book/get more behind-the-scenes/outtake shots!

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These are just some outtakes + detailed shots, but I really can’t wait to share the final product with you! xx Stay tuned!

P.S. If you're as excited as I am and would love to share this book with your friends and family, I have a few affiliate opportunities--please shoot me an email asap!

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