Maria B is under fire after being accused of copying designs for her Palestine campaign. Activist Leena Ghani brought attention to the issue, claiming that Maria B used an artist’s illustration without proper credit. The controversy has sparked criticism and scrutiny within the fashion industry.
The issue came to light when Ghani highlighted the similarities between a piece from Maria B’s collection and an original design credited to the Palestinequebec page. Ghani posted both designs side by side, pointing out the resemblance. She commented, “The original design vs Maria B’s knockoff! And then she dares to call herself an artist and a designer.” Ghani also accused Maria B of being “greedy” and profiting from the conflict in Palestine.
“While Palestinians are getting killed, this greedy grifter thinks it’s the best time to start her modeling career by taking their culture. She is not an artist; she is a businesswoman. Artists don’t profit from genocide, but Zionists do!”
Maria B launched the collection on her website under the name ‘Palestine Pret.’ In response to the backlash, she explained on her Instagram Story that her ‘Falasteen’ collection was not just about profits. Maria B stated that part of the money from the sales would be donated to support Palestine. She said, “The entire sales of the collection will go to Falasteen… for everyone who loves Falasteen, you will love this collection because there are small details in it that will remind you of Palestine.”
However, Ghani also questioned the high price of the collection and whether the promised donations would reach those in need. She remarked, “Almost 10K for one outfit! Just wondering how much will be donated to the charities? And why couldn’t Maria B tag the charities she’s working with like other brands for transparency?”
A wave of backlash followed the announcement, with many people online accusing Maria B of exploiting the Palestinian cause for her benefit. One user commented, “While Palestinians are being killed, Maria B thinks it’s the best time to start her modeling career by taking their culture. Her clothes aren’t going to free Palestine. She needs to be clear about which charity she will send the money to. No one is falling for this. Shame on everyone involved in this campaign.”
Another critic urged people to support Palestinian businesses directly, saying, “Instead of buying from this opportunist using Palestine for her branding, I encourage people to buy directly from Palestinians.”
The criticism continued with another comment: “Will you also be donating all profits to Palestine, or are you just using someone’s suffering to make money?” This reflects a broader concern among consumers about how sincere brands are when they align themselves with social causes.
Maria B has repeatedly landed in hot waters in recent years for targeting the transgender community and most recently, for her crusade against Barzakh.
