Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) (Instagram) is a non-profit organization that works to scout, fund and nurture design talent from across the MENA region and to further international awareness about our regional fashion scene. Born out of the success of Fashion Trust UK, co-founder Tania Fares established Fashion Trust Arabia in 2018 alongside co-chair HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, and under the patronage of Honorary Chair HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser.
This year, the FTA Advisory Board has selected 20 designers from applicants across the MENA region for a chance to win one of the 5 FTA Awards in the categories of Ready-to-Wear, Eveningwear, Jewellery, Accessories and Debut Talent. The Board has also selected designers from a guest country, in this case Nigeria, for recognition.
^ Ahmad Amer – Ready to Wear
The 2023 FTA Advisory Board includes Ana Khouri, Beka Gvishiani, Carljin Jacos, Carlos Nazario, Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele, Kelly Wearstler, Michael Ward, Miral Youssef, Nadia Dhouib, Peter Dundas, Piergiorgio Del Moro, Piotrek Panszcyk and Beckett Fogg, Sarah Staudinger, Tyler Mitchell and Valerie Messika. Returning Advisory Board members of last year’s edition include Adam Baidawi, Caroline Issa, Fabio Piras, Imruh Asha, Nina Garcia, Saif Mahdhi, Sara Sozzani Maino and Tiffany Godoy.\
^ Yassmin Saleh, Eveningwear
Due to their local knowledge and fashion insight, the Board for the Guest Country was made up of an independent Advisory Board of Michelle Elie Meire, Ugo Mozie, Mobolaji, Dawodu, Desiree Ejoh and Sasa Thomann. The importance of helping young creatives in emerging markets build a global network of contacts and support system lies at the core of this collaboration, which is undertaken in partnership with EMERGE Initiative.
Through the awards and ongoing support, FTA provides catalyst opportunities in the form of financial awards and strategic world-class industry mentorship for MENA region design talents who are ready for the international market.
^ Zeid Hijaz, Ready to Wear
The finalists will present their work to the FTA Jury in Doha on October 25th, 2023. The 6 winners will be announced during the evening’s FTA 2023 Awards ceremony.
The finalists for this year’s FTA 2023 Awards are:
Ready-to-Wear Award – Ahmed Amer (Lebanon), Elise Testot (Syria), Sarah Alhamdan (Saudi Arabia) and Zeid Hijazi (Jordan)
Eveningwear Award – Amir Al Kasm (Syria), Cynthia Merhej (Lebanon), Sara Chraibi (Morocco) and Yassmin Saleh (Lebanon)
Jewellery Award – Anas Alomaim (Kuwait), Katarina Tarazi (Lebanon), Nour Ben Cheikh & Clémentine Lecointre (Tunis) and Shereen Shawky (Egypt)
Accessories Award – Amel Batita (Algeria), Dina Baheir (Egypt), Omar Taha & Lily Max (Egypt) and Oubadah Nouktah (Syria)
Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award – Adam Alaoui Elyasse (Morocco), Amina Galal (Egypt), Batoul Omar al-Rashdan (Jordan) and Maïssane Nour Zinaï (Algeria)
Guest Country Award – Adeju Thompson, Iniye Tokyo James, Kenneth Ize and Nkwo Onwuka
^ Sarah Al Hamdan, Ready to Wear
The winners of last year’s FTA 2022 Awards, include Artsi Ifrach (Eveningwear, Morocco), Siham and Sarah Albinali (Ready-to-Wear, Saudi Arabia), Fatma Mostafa (Jewellery, Egypt), Eilaf Osman (Accessories, Sudan) Kazna asker (Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award, Yemen) and Burç Akyol (Guest country Award, Turkey).
The winners will receive a grant of a $100,000 to $200,000 cash prize, depending on the size of their business; with $25,000 for the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award and the Guest Country Award.
Winners of the Ready-to-Wear, Accessories and Jewellery categories will undertake a one-year mentorship with MATCHES (Instagram), who will carry their collections for one season. Harrods (Instagram) will carry the Eveningwear category winner’s collection.
^ Sara Chraibi, Eveningwear
Winners will also benefit from other opportunities, including mentorships with The Bicester Collection (Instagram), showroom representation and PR consultancy by Maison Pyramide (Instagram) and Huntsman (Instagram) will provide the winner of the Ready-to-Wear category a London-based internship and also help create a capsule collection to be sold on the company’s e-commerce platform. Finally, luxury ethical fashion retail platform Maison De Mode (Instagram) will offer a tailored mentorship to all six winners that focuses on the importance of sustainability and ethical fashion practices.
There is no doubt at all that the FTA 2023 Awards represent an incredible opportunity to all involved.
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