Tracksuit for Hijab Wear: Caring for Scuba So It Lasts

Every November I see the same thing. Black Friday arrives on 27 November, people fill their carts with five cheap sets, and by February those sets have pilled, gone baggy at the knee and ended up at the bottom of the laundry basket. If you're searching for a tracksuit for hijab days, the real question isn't which one is cheapest. It's which one still looks right after forty washes, a long-haul flight and a whole winter of school runs. Here's how our scuba sets behave, and how to keep them that way.

What scuba polyester actually feels like

Scuba is a dense polyester knit with a little bounce to it. Pick it up and it feels smooth and slightly cushioned, closer to a soft neoprene than a thin jersey. That density is exactly what you want for modest dressing. It skims the body instead of clinging, it stays opaque when you bend to tie a shoelace, and it keeps the shape of the cut instead of collapsing. All five sets in our tracksuit edit are made from scuba polyester, which is soft, wrinkle-resistant and durable.

The Modest Sporty Tracksuit with Navy Contrast Pockets – Women's 2-Piece Set shows this best. The longline zip-up jacket hangs straight from a soft rounded collar. Because scuba has body, the two oversized navy pockets lie flat instead of sagging under your keys and phone. The full-length front zipper has a ring pull you can work with gloves on, and the adjustable drawstring waist lets you cinch it in or leave it loose over a longer hijab. This is the set I'd give a friend who wants muslim sportswear for women that still looks polished at the school gate.

The honest trade-off is that scuba isn't a featherweight summer fabric. It's warm, which is ideal for a brisk autumn walk, but it breathes less than a mesh running top. For gym intervals I layer underneath. For everything else around the gym, scuba is the better choice.

Shape, drape and why these cuts hold up

Shape retention is where good scuba earns its price. Take the Beige Two-Piece Modest Tracksuit with Side Stripe & Drawstring Tunic – Women's Sportswear Set. The oversized tunic has a collarless neckline, contrast stripes down the side and front, and balloon long sleeves gathered into ribbed cuffs. In a flimsy knit, balloon sleeves droop within a month. In scuba the volume stays where it was designed to be, and the ribbed cuffs stop the sleeves riding up when you reach for a high shelf or raise your hands in prayer. The adjustable drawstring lets you choose how much shape you want at the hip.

The hooded sets work the same way. The Brown Two-Piece Hooded Tracksuit for Modest Women – Turkish Sportswear Set pairs a colour-block hooded tunic with matching wide-leg trousers, plus elasticated cuffs, a kangaroo front pocket and a drawstring hood. Wide legs are a smart choice for muslim activewear for women. They fall straight from the hip, so nothing outlines the knee when you sit, and the weight of the scuba keeps the hem swinging instead of flapping in the wind.

If brown is too warm for your colouring, the Navy Two-Piece Hooded Tracksuit for Modest Women – Turkish Sportswear Set is the same cut in a cooler palette. Navy is also forgiving on a set that gets washed often. It hides the odd mark from a playground bench much better than a pale set can.

Then there's the Black Two-Piece Hooded Tracksuit for Modest Women – Turkish Sportswear Set, black with an olive contrast, which I'd call the workhorse of the range. The drawstring hood sits easily over a jersey hijab without tugging it back off your hairline, and on a cold early morning that matters more than any spec sheet. If you want to style these for long shopping days, our earlier piece Your Black Friday Uniform: A Tracksuit for Hijab Days covers that in detail.

How to wash and dry scuba without ruining it

Scuba is low-maintenance, but it isn't indestructible. Here's my routine, though you should always check it against the care label in your set. Zip the jacket all the way up, tie off the drawstrings so they don't tangle, and turn everything inside out. Wash cool on a gentle cycle with similar colours, especially for the first few washes of the navy and brown. Leave out the fabric softener, because it coats synthetic knits and dulls that smooth surface.

Drying is where most of the damage happens. High dryer heat is polyester's worst enemy, so hang the tunic on a wide hanger or lay it flat, and peg the trousers at the waistband so the wide legs dry straight. Because scuba resists wrinkles, you'll rarely need an iron. If a crease survives the suitcase, a steamer held a few centimetres away is safer than a hot plate. Your abayas need much the same care, and The Abaya Care Guide: Keep It Looking New for Years goes through it piece by piece.

Storing and travelling with your sets

For long-term storage, fold rather than hang. Scuba is heavier than it looks, and months on a narrow hanger can stretch the shoulders of a hooded tunic. Fold the top in thirds, roll the trousers and keep the two pieces together so you never have to hunt for the other half. For travel, roll the set. It packs tightly into a corner of a carry-on and comes out ready to wear, which is why I recommend it for overnight flights home to family in December. Pair it with a jersey scarf from our Hijabs Collection that won't slip against a headrest, and read Headscarves That Last a Black Friday Shopping Marathon for the fabrics that hold their place all day.

One last habit: wash these away from towels and anything with Velcro. Friction causes pilling on any synthetic, and a cheap fabric shaver will deal with the odd pill on the inner thigh. Looked after like this, islamic exercise clothes for women stop being disposable. They become the set you're still wearing three autumns from now.

Compare the pieces

If you want one set that goes from the gym car park to a coffee with a client, pick the grey zip jacket, because the front zipper makes it the easiest to layer. The beige tunic is for women who want something softer and more fashion-led. The hooded sets are the everyday workhorses. The brown at $54.99 is the best value, and the black is the one I'd buy for the hardest wear.

FAQ

Is a scuba tracksuit good for working out in a hijab?

For walking, yoga, school runs and light gym sessions, yes. Scuba is opaque, holds its shape and won't cling when you bend or stretch, so your coverage stays put. It is warmer and less breathable than mesh, so for intense cardio in a hot room, wear a lighter top underneath and take off the jacket or tunic once you warm up.

How do I wash a scuba polyester tracksuit without ruining it?

Follow the care label first. As a general rule, turn the set inside out, close the zips, tie the drawstrings and wash cool on a gentle cycle with similar colours. Avoid fabric softener and high dryer heat, and hang or lay flat to dry. Scuba is wrinkle-resistant, so it rarely needs ironing, and a steamer handles any creases from travel.

Which size should I choose, S-M or L-XL?

Each set comes in two sizes, S-M and L-XL, and all of them are relaxed cuts with adjustable drawstrings. If you're between sizes or want extra room for layers underneath, take the larger size. If you prefer a neater fit and will wear the set on its own, go with your usual size. The drawstring lets you adjust the shape at the waist.

Does a modest tracksuit make a good winter gift?

It's one of the easiest gifts to get right. There are only two sizes to choose from, the cuts are relaxed, and colours like navy, brown and beige suit most wardrobes. Winter gifting peaks around 18 December, so order early to make sure it arrives in time, and add a matching hijab to round out the gift.

Buy once this Black Friday, buy well, and look after what you buy. Browse the full Istanbul Styles tracksuit collection for modest women and choose the set you'll still be wearing next autumn.