Bella Hadid has once again used her platform to celebrate Palestinian talent — this time while promoting her perfume brand, Orebella.
In her latest Instagram post, the Palestinian-American model shared a series of photos of herself wearing an exquisite piece from Palestinian designer Reema Al Banna’s label Reemami, praising the designer’s skill and vision. The dress features the olive tree and other symbols of the Palestinian resistance.
Calling Al Banna a “brilliant, beautiful, hard-working, talented young Palestinian artist and designer,” Hadid described the outfit as “a piece of art” and expressed gratitude for her craftsmanship.
Banna started her brand at 24, fresh out of college. Her label, according to Official Bespoke, captures the spirit of a daring and thriving generation that has rooted itself in a recovering region.
The designer, who won the DDFC/Vogue Fashion Prize for ready-to-wear in 2016, said in an interview featured on Gems of Arabia in April, “The symbolism in Palestinian craftsmanship feels like homecoming to me. It’s about celebrating my identity.” She spoke about how fashion can be a force for purpose, not just aesthetics.
Hadid’s post went beyond fashion. Tying the shoot to her own heritage, Hadid reflected on her “Eternal Roots”, a theme she has been championing, and spoke about “holding your lineage when the world makes it hard,” a clear nod to the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza and the backlash Palestinian and pro-Palestinian voices face for speaking up. Hadid has faced intense backlash for her support of her father’s homeland, including threats from the Israeli government.
“Roots are not passive,” she wrote. “They hold us steady through storms, and they remind us of who we are when the ground feels unsteady. My roots are my compass,” she declared.
Describing those roots as her family, her ancestors, mother nature, God and love — elements she says have guided her through the toughest times — she added, “And they will always, always run deep.”
Hadid ended her post by spotlighting another Palestinian creative, singer Elyanna, whose song ‘Olive Branch’ she used in the video. “Bless you, Habibti. I am so proud of you and all that you do,” she wrote.
“Eternal Roots comes from within, we just have to make sure we walk in our truth, the rest will follow,” concluded the model.
This isn’t the first time Hadid has merged her advocacy for Palestine with her work in fashion and beauty. The model has consistently spoken out against injustices faced by Palestinians, making her platform a space where artistry and activism often intersect.
Earlier, she wore a red keffiyeh dress to Cannes, France, during the city’s famed film festival. In an Instagram post highlighting her look, she spoke about the significance of the keffiyeh.
“Palestine on my mind, in my blood and on my heart. Always… While I still have to go to work, even through this horror, to wear our culture makes me a proud Palestinian, and I want the world to continue to see Palestine, wherever we go,” Hadid wrote.
Hadid said the dress, designed by Michael and Hushi in 2001, was “a beautiful way to represent the history, labour of love, resilience and, most importantly, the art of historic Palestinian embroidery.”