Building a Muslim Women’s Team Kit: Hijab, Long-Sleeve & Full-Length Options

A Muslim women’s team kit is not a standard kit with extra fabric added. It is a coordinated set — sports hijab, long-sleeve jersey, full-length bottoms and optional layers — that has to give full coverage, allow free movement and still look unmistakably like the rest of the club or school.

This guide is written for PE heads, club and academy managers, coaches and association procurement teams in the UAE and wider GCC. It covers each component, the decisions to make before quotation, and how to order mixed kit sets in one order so that every player receives a kit she is comfortable wearing.

You can see the range on our Muslim women’s sportswear page and the wider sports uniforms hub.

What this guide covers

• Start with the players, not the catalogue
• The components of a full kit set
• Choosing each piece
• Matching the team’s standard kit in colour and branding
• Fabric and layering in UAE heat
• Fit and movement by sport
• Sizing, ordering mixed sets and care
• Recommendation and buyer checklist
• Start your kit with us
• Frequently asked questions

Start with the players, not the catalogue

Coverage preferences are personal. Within one squad, some players will want a sports hijab, long sleeves and full-length bottoms; some will want long sleeves and leggings without a head covering; others will choose the standard kit. A programme that offers a single modest option usually leaves someone compromising.

The practical answer is to treat every variant as a normal part of the kit list rather than a special request. Put them all on the same order form, in the same colours, with no explanation required from the player.

How to consult the squad

A short conversation or anonymous form, ideally led by a female coach or staff member, is enough. Ask about the points that actually change the garment:

• Head covering: none, a close-fitting sports hijab, or a longer style that also covers the neck and chest.
• Sleeve length and cuff: to the wrist, with or without a snug cuff.
• Top length: standard hip length or a tunic length that covers the hips and upper thigh.
• Fit: how loose the top should sit through the body.
• Bottoms: full-length leggings, loose trousers, or leggings under shorts or a skirt.

Juniors and parents

For school and academy teams, send the options to parents together with the sizing-day information, so the choice is made at home before anyone is asked in front of team-mates. Our article on modest sportswear for UAE schools covers the school-policy side in more detail.

The components of a full kit set

A complete set is built from a small number of pieces. The table lists what is commonly included, the options within each, and the decision the club or school needs to make before quotation.

Not every team needs every row. A futsal squad may need only the hijab, the long-sleeve jersey and leggings under the standard shorts. Sport-specific kits are listed under sports and team uniforms.

Choosing each piece

The sports hijab

The sports hijab is the anchor of the set. Purpose-made designs are pulled on in one piece without pins. The main choices are how far the hijab extends over the neck and chest, how closely it sits around the face, and whether an under-cap is worn to keep it in position.

Ask players to test a sample by turning the head sharply, looking up and running. The fabric should not slide back from the hairline or pull across the throat. Many competitions set their own rules on head coverings, including colour and how they are secured, so check your own federation’s or competition’s current rules before approving a design. Our sports hijab guide to coverage, fabric and fit goes deeper on shapes and sizing.

The long-sleeve jersey

A long-sleeve jersey for a modest kit is usually looser through the body, with a higher neckline and a sleeve that stays at the wrist when the arm is raised. A soft cuff or a slightly longer sleeve keeps the forearm covered during a throw, serve or block.

The tunic-length top

Some players prefer a top that covers the hips and upper thigh. Side vents keep the stride free. Decide early whether the printed design runs the full length or stops at the usual hip line with a plain panel below, because this changes the artwork.

Full-length leggings and trousers

Leggings are the most common choice because they sit under shorts or a skirt without changing the look of the team. Check opacity when the fabric is stretched, a secure waistband and an ankle-length leg that does not ride up. Loose trousers give a less fitted outline; confirm whether your competition permits them in play.

Matching the team’s standard kit in colour and branding

A modest kit should look like the same team from the touchline. Build every variant from one set of artwork rather than designing the modest kit separately.

• One design, several patterns. With sublimation printing, the same design is scaled onto the short-sleeve, long-sleeve and tunic-length patterns, so stripes, panels and gradients line up across the squad.
• Solid colours for hijab and leggings. These are normally produced in one of the kit colours. Different fabrics take colour slightly differently, so ask to see the pieces together before approval.
• Crest, sponsor and number positions. Keep them in the same places on every variant. Where a longer hijab covers the upper back, move the name or number lower, or the hijab will hide it.
• One mock-up showing every variant. Ask for the standard, long-sleeve and tunic versions side by side, with hijab and leggings colours, so the committee approves the whole set at once.

Our branding methods resource and garment printing service page explain which method suits a crest or sponsor logo.

Fabric and layering in UAE heat

Full coverage means more fabric on the body, so fabric choice matters more than it does for a short-sleeve kit. In the UAE the same player may train outdoors in humid evening heat and compete in a strongly air-conditioned hall.

• Choose lightweight knitted sports fabrics. Fine polyester knits made for sportswear are designed to move moisture away from the skin and generally dry more readily than cotton-rich jersey.
• Use mesh with care. Mesh panels under the arm or down the side seam add airflow without making the garment see-through. Avoid open mesh across the chest and back.
• Check opacity in light colours. White and pale kits are comfortable in the sun but can show through when damp. Test the sample under strong light.
• Avoid unnecessary layers. One long-sleeve jersey is usually more comfortable than a short-sleeve jersey over a separate base layer. If a base layer is preferred, keep both layers light.
• Plan for cold halls. A track jacket or long-sleeve training top is useful for the bench and for warm-ups indoors.

These are recommendations for comfort, not performance promises; how a fabric feels depends on the sport, the venue and the individual. Our guide to breathable sports fabrics for the UAE climate compares the main options. Final specification will be confirmed during quotation.

Fit and movement by sport

Use the sample or size set to test the movements that matter for your sport.

• Football and futsal: sprinting, turning and heading. Check that the hijab stays in position and that leggings do not slip under shorts.
• Basketball, netball and handball: overhead reach. Raise both arms and confirm that the hem and cuffs stay in place.
• Volleyball: diving and floor contact. Sleeves should slide over the court, and knee pads need to sit securely over leggings.
• Athletics: a closer fit to reduce flapping fabric, with a hijab that stays put at full stride.
• Racquet sports: rotation through the shoulder. A tunic-length top needs enough width to serve and lunge.

Rules on leggings colour, long sleeves and head coverings differ between sports and competitions. Treat your own federation’s or competition’s current rules as the reference.

Sizing, ordering mixed sets and care

Sizing

A modest fit is not a standard jersey ordered two sizes up. Sizing up lengthens the sleeves and drops the shoulder seam, which gets in the way. Use the pattern cut for the purpose and choose the size that fits the shoulders.

Teams and students can try a size set in person at our Jebel Ali showroom before committing. If you run a try-on at your own venue, arrange a private space and female staff, and record each player’s top, bottoms and hijab size separately. The size and fit guide and our article on how to measure for a uniform sizing chart explain the measurements to take.

Ordering mixed kit sets in one order

Because every variant uses the same artwork, men’s and unisex, women’s modest and Muslim women’s hijab-friendly fits can sit on one order. Add a kit-variant column to the squad list next to name, number and size, and add separate columns for bottoms and hijab. Players who want the women’s modest fit without a hijab are recorded in the same way.

Your sizes and artwork are stored for repeat orders, so a player who joins mid-season can be matched to the existing kit. For modest activewear outside the team kit, Nenoush, a Mustang group brand, is also available.

Care

Follow the care label on each garment. As general practice, wash printed kit inside out on a cool cycle, avoid fabric softener on sports knits and dry in the shade. Hijabs are washed more often than any other piece, so many clubs issue each player a spare. The fabric care guide has more detail.

Recommendation and buyer checklist

Mustang recommendation: decide the kit variants with your players first, then brief one design across all of them. Approve the mock-up with every variant on the same sheet, and have the sample worn in a real training session before production.

• Players consulted on head covering, sleeve length, top length, fit and bottoms.
• Kit variants listed on one order form, in the same colours as the standard kit.
• Competition rules on head coverings, sleeves and leggings checked with your own federation or organiser.
• Mock-up shows every variant, with crest, sponsor and number positions.
• Sample checked for opacity, sleeve length with arms raised and hijab stability.
• Top, bottoms and hijab sizes recorded separately for each player.
• Spare hijabs and training layers decided.
• Care instructions shared with players and parents.

Start your kit with us

Every order begins with a free design mock-up and a free sample against your confirmed order (LPO), and your sizes and artwork are stored for repeat orders. Teams can try sizes in person at our Jebel Ali showroom before committing. Delivery timelines are confirmed during quotation.

Request a quote with your squad list and logo, request a sample, or contact us to arrange a showroom visit.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Muslim women’s team kit match our existing kit?

Yes. The same artwork, colours, crest and sponsor positions are applied to the long-sleeve and tunic-length patterns, with the hijab and leggings in one of the kit colours. Review the pieces together, because different fabrics can show small shade differences.

Are sports hijabs allowed in competition?

Rules differ by sport, level and organiser, and they change over time. Check your own federation’s or competition’s current rules on head coverings before you approve a design. We do not make claims about competition legality.

Can we order standard and modest kits together?

Yes. Men’s and unisex, women’s modest and Muslim women’s hijab-friendly fits can be combined in one order from the same design. Record each player’s variant and sizes on the squad list.

Can players try the kit before we order?

A size set can be tried at our Jebel Ali showroom in Dubai. A free sample is provided against a confirmed order (LPO), so the squad can check coverage, fit and colour before production.

Which fabrics suit a full-coverage kit in hot weather?

Lightweight knitted sports fabrics with mesh limited to the side and underarm panels are a common starting point. Our fabric recommendations for the UAE and GCC climate are advice; the right choice depends on your sport and venue.

What happens when a new player joins mid-season?

Your approved sizes and artwork are stored for repeat orders, so additional kits can be produced to match the original set. Send the new player’s variant and sizes with the repeat request.