Bella Hadid creates an impact with her keffiyeh-style gown at the Cannes Film Festival.
The famous model, whose father is Palestinian-American real estate developer Mohamed Hadid, recently caught the attention of many on social media, wearing a dress designed by Michael and Hushi.
One user commented, "Our Palestinian princess," while another gushed over the tribute to her family's roots, writing, "Loving this homage to her Palestinian heritage." Yet another user said, "This is fashion with purpose."
Hadid also shared a picture of the dress on her own Instagram stories, captioning it "Free Palestine forever."
The model is known for her outspoken advocacy for Palestinian causes, often speaking out against violence towards Palestinians and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Last year, she wrote on Instagram, "My heart is bleeding with pain from the trauma I am seeing. As well as the generational trauma of my Palestinian blood."
More recently, on Nakba Day, Hadid posted a message about her family's history as survivors of the 1948 Palestinian exodus and urged for an end to the war in Gaza, stating, "Please look into the eyes of the Palestinians suffering."
The keffiyeh scarf, which inspired Hadid's dress, is widely used in the Middle East. However, in recent times it has become a symbol of Palestinian identity and resistance.
The dress itself comes from the archives of Michael and Hushi, a New York-based brand founded by Michael Sears and Hushidar Mortezaie. The piece was first available for purchase in September 2001 at a cost of $900, and it was featured in several popular magazines, including Women's Wear Daily and Wallpaper.
Despite the historical significance of the keffiyeh scarf, some pointed out that the colors on Hadid's dress more closely resembled those used in Jordan and Saudi Arabia, rather than those used by Palestinians.
When questioned about this, Mortezaie, one of the original designers, responded on Instagram, "This dress was created 23 years ago when everyone from the region was grouped as one big Other. There was no Google back then. We could only put together what we had. Hopefully, we can all stand united and love against genocide."
Another iconic piece designed by Michael and Hushi appeared in the fourth season of Sex and the City, where Carrie Bradshaw wore a black-and-white keffiyeh tank top.
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Bella Hadid's choice to wear a keffiyeh-style gown at the Cannes Film Festival was seen as a tribute to her Palestinian heritage, with many users praising it as a powerful statement of her family's roots and a fashion choice with purpose. The dress, originally designed 23 years ago by Michael and Hushi, features the keffiyeh scarf, which has become a symbol of Palestinian identity and resistance.
Source: edition.cnn.com
