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Nöl Collective founder reveals how Olivia Rodrigo’s pink dress helped Palestinian fashion brand survive | The Express Tribune
Nöl Collective founder reveals how Olivia Rodrigo’s pink dress helped Palestinian fashion brand survive
Yasmeen Mjalli described the timing of Rodrigo’s commission as a form of ‘divine intervention’
Photo: Instagram
Olinian fashion label Nöl Collective at a difficult time for the Ramallah-based brand
The label was facing serious challenges after a fabric shipment was destroyed by Israeli customs, while road closures affected access to its workshops
Founder Yasmeen Mjalli said the business had been considering whether it could continue operating
Rodrigo’s team commissioned Nöl Collective to create the dress, giving the label direction on the silhouette and a preference for pink while allowing creative freedom over the details
Mjalli told Refinery29 that the team selected a soft, dusty rose shade, raw silk and embroidered motifs
Rodrigo wore the pale pink minidress at a press presentation in Santa Monica, California, on August 28, 2026
The design featured flutter sleeves, a ruffled neckline, a flared skirt and embroidery depicting birds and interconnected daisy chains
Nöl Collective works with family-run sewing workshops, artisan studios and women’s cooperatives across the West Bank and Gaza
Its designs also draw on Palestinian traditions including tatreez embroidery and Majdalawi weaving
Mjalli described the timing of Rodrigo’s commission as a form of “divine intervention”. She told Refinery29 that the visibility helped communicate the message “we are still here; we have not been forgotten”, adding that it “meant the world” to the team
The label has since reported increased interest and sales following Rodrigo’s appearance, although Mjalli’s concerns about supply chains and movement remain
