The coat, listed on Palantir’s official product page as a 10-ounce bull denim jacket made with 100% American-grown cotton, was sold in blue and black. Palantir’s official store now shows both versions as sold out.
Why the Palantir chore coat drew backlash
Criticism centered on the contrast between the coat’s working-class roots and Palantir’s identity as a powerful government, military and AI contractor. Fast Company reported that online reaction ranged from complaints about the design to broader discomfort with Palantir moving deeper into fashion.
Fashion critics were even sharper. Dazed described the drop as part of a wider tech-industry turn toward menswear and “taste,” while The Observer quoted menswear academic Andrew Groves saying Palantir was “selling the look of power.”
The Palantir chore coat fits a longer merch campaign
The uproar did not come out of nowhere. In September 2025, Wired reported that Palantir was trying to position itself as a lifestyle brand through merchandise such as T-shirts and tote bags. That same month, Business Insider examined how defense-tech companies were using swag to court fans, investors and potential recruits.
Palantir’s public image has also been shaped by long-running scrutiny of its government work. A September 2025 Guardian investigation reported on documents offering insight into the company’s relationship with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, adding context to why even a jacket could trigger a political response.
Sold out, but not settled
The sellout suggests demand remains strong among Palantir supporters, even as critics mock or condemn the company’s move into apparel. For Palantir, the chore coat appears to be both merchandise and message: a wearable signal for people who want to affiliate with the brand’s mission.
For detractors, that is exactly the problem. The Palantir chore coat became controversial not because of its fabric or price alone, but because it turned a familiar piece of workwear into a symbol of Silicon Valley’s growing comfort with military, surveillance and AI power.
