Doha: HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, revealed that her National Sport Day outfit was designed using a combination of art and science. Her Highness said that the sports abaya is capable of fending off harmful sun rays in extreme summer climates and absorbing much-needed vitamin D-rich light.
The “nanobaya”, an abaya with thermal insulating properties made out of nanotechnology-treated fabric, was designed by Virgina Commonwealth University student Noor Rashid Butt.
HH Sheikha Moza revealed through her official Instagram account that the design was “part of a wider project which aims to develop functional textiles with thermal, anti-bacterial, UV-protection, self-cleaning, or water-repellent properties.”
In an Instagram post by VCUarts Qatar showing Her Highness wearing the nanoabaya, @vcuqstudentlife commented: "@_by.noor, proud of you", to which Noor Rashid Butt replied: "Thank you so very much. It is a dream come true moment for me!"
The project is supervised by Dr. Khaled Saoud, Physics professor, and Chair of Fashion Design Christopher Frink at VCUarts Qatar.
