When a historical agreement was made in Vienna to lift economic sanctions on Iran, an influx of Western brands was widely anticipated. Leading the charge is Sephora, which is planning a string of store openings next year in a country widely tipped to be the ‘the next UAE’.

From the fashionable Mipsterz to the ‘Happy Muslims’, the latest cultural movements in the Islamic world have been well documented across social media. With a global population of approximately 1.57 billion, what are the implications for brands trying to reach modern Muslims?

Asiya is a clothing brand that makes sports hijabs for active Muslim women who might normally be restricted by traditional religious garb. As the clothing industry makes space for minority shoppers, brands are filling in the gaps left by a mainstream-oriented market.

Getting home at night as a woman can be a headache-inducing exercise in risk assessment. Public transport is gropey, ride-sharing can feel dicey, and proper taxis can empty your bank account. Can SafeHer’s promise a female-friendly alternative to Uber give women peace of mind?