Courtroom scarf becomes a bestseller after politician's viral Instagram post

A Zurich court case has unexpectedly boosted sales for a local scarf shop. Sanija Ameti, a former Green Liberal politician, wore a pear-patterned scarf from Quadro Zurigo during her trial. The item quickly became a bestseller after she mentioned the Shopify store on Instagram.

The shop, run by Amanda Cheli and Corinne Zeltner, saw a surge in orders and social media attention following Ameti's post.

Ameti was convicted by a Zurich district court in September 2024. The charges stemmed from her firing shots at an image of Jesus and Mary, which she later shared online. During her court appearance, she wore a scarf featuring a pear design, made by Quadro Zurigo.

After the hearing, Ameti posted on Instagram, dedicating her message to 'Tanta Ava', a partisan figure who inspired her. She also tagged the Zurich-based Shopify store, which specialises in handmade textiles. The post led to a sharp rise in demand for the pear-motif scarf, turning it into the shop's top-selling item.

Owners Amanda Cheli and Corinne Zeltner reported hundreds of new Instagram followers and dozens of fresh orders. Cheli later announced plans to donate the extra revenue to Brava, an NGO supporting women's rights and refugee women.

The court case brought unexpected publicity to Quadro Zurigo. Sales of the pear-patterned scarf increased significantly after Ameti's trial and social media mention. The shop's decision to donate profits will benefit Brava's work with women and refugees.