Bella Hadid is paying tribute to her Palestinian background via fashion. The model, wearing a red and white keffiyeh-style garment, ventured out onto the Cannes streets in pursuit of ice cream.
The design team Michael and Hushi, who previously created Carrie Bradshaw’s black and white keffiyeh halter top in a Sex and the City season four episode, created the midi dress in February 2001. Designer Hushidar Mortezaie claimed that the spaghetti strap dress’s asymmetrical hemline was a technically challenging achievement. “It wasn’t easy, and I still have nightmares about making the dress out of keffiyeh fabric,” he adds.
Hadid, who was styled by Molly Dickson, accessorized her ensemble with a white eyelet scrunchy and a pair of red Gucci mules. She also wore some hoops earrings and a little pair of rectangular sunglasses.
A traditional Middle Eastern scarf, the keffiyeh gained popularity among Palestinians following Yasser Arafat’s adoption of it in the 1960s. The design on the keffiyeh alludes to significant aspects of Palestinian culture: the broad border lines signify the trade routes, the fishnet pays homage to the Mediterranean Sea, and the wavy lines depict olive leaves, which are a symbol of resiliency and strength. Although the scarf is typically worn by men, it has come to represent solidarity with the Palestinian population.
Cannes has evolved into a venue where politics and the personal collide with fashion in recent years. Iranian model Mahlagha Jaberi protested the deaths of Iranian civilians after Mahsa Amini’s killing by wearing a halter dress with a noose neck designed by Jila Saber last year. In addition to seeing the glitz of Cannes, Jaberi stated on Instagram, “We wanted to make a fashion statement to bring media attention to the wrongful executions of Iranian people.” “Unfortunately, the film festival prohibits political statements, so security prevented me from exposing the back of my dress, but everyone understood what a “noose” meant.”
Even though Bella Hadid has had many incredible fashion moments at the Cannes Film Festival, it’s safe to say that this particular ensemble had the most personal importance.
