Palestinian Designer's Brand Saved by Olivia Rodrigo Order

Palestinian fashion designer Yasmin Al-Jalil nearly closed her brand, Nöl, until a surprise order from pop star Olivia Rodrigo provided a lifeline. Al-Jalil, who founded Nöl in the West Bank in 2020, focuses on preserving traditional craftsmanship using Palestinian seamstresses from Bethlehem and relies heavily on importing natural fibers.

In an interview with Vogue Arabia, Al-Jalil detailed significant logistical challenges, including a shipment of hand-woven wool for a fall collection that was delayed at Israeli customs and subsequently destroyed. Attempts to procure alternative fabric in Jerusalem were thwarted by Israeli military road closures out of Ramallah, leading her to consider shutting down the brand due to exhaustion.

Rodrigo's order for a dress to wear at her "Daisy Chain Fields" music festival, which supports women's and girls' rights organizations, arrived as a pivotal moment. Al-Jalil described it as "divine intervention," emphasizing that adaptability leads to reward.

With less than a week to complete the dress, Al-Jalil sourced baby pink silk fibers in Ramallah with a colleague's help. Facing further shipping hurdles to California, she enlisted two foreign volunteers who hand-carried the dress to Los Angeles for the festival in Irvine, California, which raised $20 million for non-profits.

Al-Jalil stated, "Fashion is political, no matter where you are." She added, "We are still here, they haven't forgotten us." Rodrigo, who has previously spoken about the situation in Gaza, noted her efforts to stay informed and express her feelings through her art, acknowledging she is not a geopolitics expert.