Toronto Raptors introduces team-branded hijabs for Muslim women 'inspired by those brave enough to change the game'
In what is being hailed as a move to promote inclusivity, the Toronto Raptors has become the first team in NBA history to offer hijabs with the team's logo emblazoned on it.
The move was announced in a social media post on September 13 that was captioned, "Inspired by those brave enough to change the game. The Toronto Raptors Nike Pro Hijab is available now."
The post was accompanied by a 36-second video which features several Muslim women playing basketball at a court while wearing the Toronto Raptors hijab.
"You know, it goes back to my experience as an athlete," one of the women says. "Growing up, I didn't have so many role models that looked like me. It's about Muslim females not having to give up their identity or feeling like they have to sacrifice some portion of their identity but also play whatever sport they want."
The women in the video are members of Hijabi Ballers, a Toronto-area athletic club for Muslim girls and women who were the inspiration behind the move, according to CNN.
In an Instagram post, the club celebrated the move, writing, "We're excited and humbled to partner with none other than the 2019 NBA Champions @raptors to present our mandate to the world — celebrating and increasing opportunities for Muslim girls and women in sport — as they launch the new Toronto Raptors @Nike Pro Hijab."
They also thanked the Raptors for recognizing the role Muslim women play in "changing the culture around sport" in the city.
"With the Raptors releasing a hijab to this market of hijab-wearing athletes, it shows that they're a team that actually truly respects diversity and inclusivity and will take that extra step to involve Muslim athletes in their growth as a team and organization," said Amreen Kadwa, the founder and executive director of Hijabi Ballers.
Nike had first launched the Pro Hijab series in 2017, following which athletes from various sports have worn them. However, the Raptors having its logo emblazoned on them is expected to go a long way towards shedding the stereotypes that accompany the clothing.
Raptors' status as the first-ever Canadian team to lift an NBA championship following their victory over the Golden State Warriors earlier this year has also meant that the team has seen its fan base substantially grow over a short period, giving them unprecedented publicity.
Jerry Ferguson, the senior marketing director for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the Raptors' parent company, said the hijabs were a way of sending a message of inclusion to their diverse fan base.
"One of the things that we are very interested in is moving from saying we are just about inclusivity and accessibility, and finding ways to bring products and ideas to market that actually prove that," he said.