“For sale: hijab-inspired secular accessorization, never worn.”

On Aug 23, 2025, an uncommon phrase started spreading quickly throughout X after an individual tweeted that they’d obtained hate from “so-called ‘leftist’ accounts” after updating their profile image carrying what they described as a “hijab-inspired secular accessorization.”

Featured Video

“It’s not lost on me that I have received a huge amount of hate from so-called ‘leftist’ accounts since changing my fpf to include a hijab-inspired secular accessorization,” wrote @Serene_Necrosis on X.

The oddly formal, buzzword-laden phrasing rapidly turned meme materials, with customers posting parody tweets and riffs on the phrase. Many discovered it to be a jumble of buzzwords that sounded each self-serious and unintentionally absurd, partly as a result of “accessorization” was used incorrectly as a noun.

Where the phrase “hijab-inspired secular accessorization” got here from

The unique poster, @Serene_Necrosis, identifies as pagan and has repeatedly referred to their chosen head masking as a “Pagan wimple.” In follow-up replies and tweets, they defended head coverings as culturally various, fashionable—and much from oppressive.

For occasion, they argued that “Too many ‘leftists’ believe every US Regime imperialist lie about Iran,” stating what they noticed as myths across the hijab. According to them, misconceptions embody concepts corresponding to: each Muslim wears a hijab, solely Muslims could cowl their hair, or head coverings all the time symbolize oppression.

They additionally claimed that equipment like scarves or veils could possibly be stunning, snug, and empowering. To again this up, they shared examples of hair masking traditions throughout a number of world cultures.

The historical past of head coverings

Although the web latched onto the awkward phrase itself, using head coverings spans 1000’s of years. People throughout quite a few religions and societies have worn them for non secular, social, and cultural causes.

According to headcovers.com, data from the Thirteenth-century BC Assyria described noblewomen utilizing head coverings to sign larger standing. In early Christianity, girls have been instructed to veil themselves as an indication of non secular submission. Jewish communities have lengthy used clothes such because the kippah, and plenty of Muslim girls put on various types of hijab, from easy scarves to full burqas.

While the meme took form within the language of 1 pagan X person, its background touched on a genuinely broad and historic custom.

The hijab-inspired secular accessorization meme takes off

Despite the historic context, people on the web principally leaned into the comedy of the phrase.

People started posting intentionally over-the-top tweets like: “Oh this old thing? It’s just one of my hijab-inspired secular accessorizations.” 

Another joked, “for sale: hijab-inspired secular accessorization, never worn.”

The phrasing gave meme-makers loads of materials as a result of it mixed serious-sounding political undertones with clunky, pointless descriptors. Additionally, the mixture of non secular language and style jargon created a surreal distinction that lent itself to copy-paste humor.

At the identical time, reactions weren’t uniformly playful. Some Muslim customers admitted they laughed on the phrase, however others criticized it as tone-deaf or appropriative.

Several identified that white pagans rebranding the hijab as “secular accessorization” ignored the actual struggles Muslim girls face below each Islamophobia and state regulation.

As one X person famous, “people act like twitter no longer has the juice but I saw these 2 tweets first thing this morning and I think we’ve still got it.”

The web is chaotic—however we’ll break it down for you in a single each day electronic mail. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s e-newsletter right here.