Colourful and oozing defiance, a sports-friendly version of the abaya gown was once considered a symbol of cultural rebellion in conservative Saudi Arabia, but it is fast becoming the new normal. Pictures of female athletes running in Jeddah went viral last month, setting off a new debate on sartorial freedoms for women in the country. Some cultural purists vented fury online, calling it a breach of tradition, but opposition has been largely muted following recent comments from Crown Prince Salman that the abaya is not mandatory in Islam.