As Fashion Trust Arabia brings its latest winners to London, mentorships, retail partnerships, and global industry connections are proving just as valuable as the awards themselves.
For many emerging designers, winning an award is only the beginning. The real challenge comes afterward: building a sustainable business, finding international stockists, developing a clear brand identity, and navigating an industry that can often feel inaccessible. Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) has built its reputation on addressing exactly that challenge. Since its founding in 2018, the non-profit initiative has supported designers across the MENA region through financial grants, mentorship, strategic guidance, and international exposure.
This week, FTA brought that mission to London, launching a series of activations designed to connect its latest winners with some of the most influential figures in global fashion. The programme began with an intimate cocktail hosted by Megha Mittal and Tania Fares, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of Fashion Trust Arabia, bringing together leading voices from fashion, culture, and the creative industries to celebrate the designers and the opportunities ahead.
Among those attending were prominent names including Ana Khouri, Christopher Kane, David Koma, Dilara Findikoglu, Elizabeth Saltzman, Hamish Bowles, Harris Reed, Nicholas Kirkwood, Peter Hawkings, and Roksanda Ilinčić. While the guest list reflected fashion’s global reach, the focus remained firmly on the emerging designers whose work is increasingly shaping conversations around creativity in the Arab world and beyond.
The London programme represents a significant step in Fashion Trust Arabia’s wider strategy. Rather than limiting support to financial prizes, the organisation continues to invest in long-term career development through direct access to industry leaders, practical business education, and commercial opportunities. According to Tania Fares, this holistic approach remains central to FTA’s mission.
“Supporting emerging talent goes far beyond visibility — it is about creating real opportunities, fostering mentorship, and helping designers build sustainable businesses,” said Fares. “Bringing our designers to London for this program, alongside our partners and industry community, is an important part of that mission.”
At the centre of this year’s programme is Harrods, Fashion Trust Arabia’s longstanding retail partner. On June 5, the luxury department store will host a breakfast celebrating the launch of selected collections by recent FTA winners, providing the designers with a rare opportunity to present their work within one of the world’s most influential retail environments. Featured collections include those by Youssef Drissi’s Late For Work, Ziyad Buainain, Leila Roukni’s Talel, and Farah Radwan’s FYR, representing categories ranging from ready-to-wear and eveningwear to accessories and jewellery.
The partnership marks the fourth consecutive year that Harrods has showcased FTA winners in-store, underscoring a shared commitment to nurturing emerging talent from the region. The collections will be available both at the iconic Knightsbridge flagship and through Harrods’ digital channels, giving designers exposure to an international customer base far beyond the Middle East.
Yet retail visibility is only one part of the equation. Alongside the launch, the designers are participating in an intensive mentorship programme until June 4. The sessions are designed to address the realities of running a contemporary fashion business, covering topics such as branding, leadership, retail strategy, entrepreneurship, communication, wellbeing, and creative development.
The programme brings together an impressive roster of industry experts including Emilia Wickstead, Kenya Hunt, Lucien Pages, Sabrina Elba, Ida Petersson, Eve Cooper, and François Souchet. Through workshops, discussions, and one-on-one interactions, participants gain access to knowledge that would otherwise take years to accumulate independently.
For Harrods, the collaboration extends beyond traditional retail support. Poppy Lomax, Head of Buying – Superbrands, International and Designer, emphasised the importance of mentorship in helping young brands navigate the complexities of growth.
“Our work with the FTA moves beyond a traditional endorsement of these emerging designers, into a true collaboration on their journey,” Lomax said. “We continue to be inspired by this special region and the creativity that emerges from it year on year. We want to not only provide a stage to showcase these incredibly deserving designers to our global clientele, but to support them through mentorship and advice as they continue to grow and develop.”
As the global fashion industry continues to look toward new creative voices and diverse perspectives, initiatives such as Fashion Trust Arabia are playing an increasingly important role. By connecting emerging designers with influential retailers, mentors, and decision-makers, FTA is helping transform regional talent into internationally recognised brands.
For the designers gathered in London this week, the experience is about far more than a showcase. It is an opportunity to build relationships, gain practical knowledge, and access networks that can shape the next stage of their careers. In an industry where talent alone is rarely enough, Fashion Trust Arabia’s model demonstrates that mentorship, opportunity, and community remain some of fashion’s most powerful tools.
For more stories of fashion from around the region, visit our dedicated archives and follow us on Instagram.
