Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) marked a new milestone in fashion with its sixth annual FTA Prize event, hosted this year at the historic El Badi Palace in Marrakech, Morocco. As part of the Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture, this electrifying evening brought together leading figures from fashion, entertainment, and media to celebrate the next generation of MENA fashion talent.
The event, which awarded seven standout designers across categories like Ready-to-Wear, Accessories, and Fashion Tech, showcased the power of the region’s style scene on a global scale.
This year’s FTA (Instagram) event was a celebration not only of MENA fashion but of cultural unity and creative excellence. The Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture provided the perfect backdrop for the awards, embodying FTA’s goal of building lasting connections within the MENA region’s creative industry. Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums and FTA Co-Chair, alongside FTA Co-Founder Tania Fares, welcomed the evening’s guests with a message of commitment to nurturing the region’s fashion talent.
The glamour of the evening was amplified by celebrity hosts Angela Bassett and Ahmad Helmy, who presided over a star-studded guest list that included style icons such as Alton Mason, Carla Bruni Sarkozy, Jameela Jamil, and Precious Lee. As Sophie Ellis-Bextor took the stage with her hits, attendees were left in no doubt that the MENA region’s creative influence is stronger than ever.
The highlight of the evening came with the announcement of seven remarkable winners, each selected by a jury of fashion luminaries. This year’s winners, who presented their collections at Beldi Country Club in categories ranging from Ready-to-Wear to Jewelry and Eveningwear, Fashion Tech and more, included:
- Ready-to-Wear: Yasmin Mansour
- Eveningwear: Nadine Mosallam
- Accessories: Reem Hamed
- Jewelry: Noura Abdulaziz Al Saud, Sara Naif Al Saud, Mashael Khalid Al Saud
- Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award: Sylwia Nazzal
- Fashion Tech: Batoul al-Rashdan
- Guest Country Award (Spain): Francisco Barroso and Javier Garcia
Each winner will receive a cash prize between $100,000 and $200,000, alongside a bespoke year-long mentorship provided by FTA’s network of industry leaders. From business strategy to sustainability, the designers will gain access to invaluable guidance, including sustainability expertise from Maison De Mode. Additionally, the winners’ collections in the main categories will be available at iconic retailers like Harrods internationally and Ounass in the MENA region.
Since its inception in 2018, FTA has grown into a critical support system for MENA designers, turning the spotlight onto the region’s rich pool of design talent. With a dedicated advisory board, including visionaries like Erdem Moralıoğlu, LaQuan Smith, and Sara Sozzani Maino, FTA continues to build a legacy of supporting designers ready to make their mark on the international stage.
As a non-profit, FTA scouts, funds, and nurtures emerging talent across the MENA region, helping designers bring their unique voices to a global audience. The FTA initiative was inspired by the success of Fashion Trust UK and was co-founded by HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani and Tania Fares. By providing funding, mentorship, and strategic industry connections, FTA propels MENA’s designers into the international fashion industry while showcasing the region’s diversity and creativity.
The Fashion Trust Arabia 2024 awards signified more than just fashion—it was a tribute to the region’s vibrant cultural heritage, amplified by the Qatar-Morocco Year of Culture. For the MENA region’s aspiring designers, FTA is more than an award; it’s a pathway to global recognition.
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