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Prada Draws Backlash After Ambassador Wears Pendant Showing 'Historic Palestine' Without Israel

The image could trigger reputational and market scrutiny over political symbols used in luxury branding.

Overview

  • A promotional clip from Prada’s Milan Spring/Summer 2027 menswear show released in late June showed new global ambassador Marwan Abdelhamid, known as Saint Levant, wearing a pendant that outlines territory labeled “Palestine” with no depiction of the State of Israel.
  • Prada has not issued a formal response to the footage and Saint Levant’s only reported reply to critics was a short message that said, “They hate to see a Palestinian win.”
  • Critics say the pendant’s map — the territory from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea — reads as a political statement that erases Israel while supporters view it as a symbol of Palestinian identity.
  • The episode follows earlier brand controversies involving Prada’s appointments and a 2017 Miu Miu rollout that was withdrawn after public outcry, and analysts warned the image could have reputational, diplomatic and market effects with one market report citing about an 8% probability of U.S. recognition of Palestine before 2027.
  • Watch for a formal Prada statement, reactions from political and Jewish groups, and any commercial moves such as campaign edits or product removals because those steps will show whether the fashion house treats the clip as a branding choice or a political flashpoint.