What is Fashion Trust Arabia?
Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) is a non-profit organization that aims to support and promote emerging fashion designers from the Missile East and North Africa (MENA) region. Founded in 2018 by Tania Fares and H.E. Sheika Al Mayassa bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, FTA offers financial grants, mentorship programs, retail opportunities, and international recognition to the winners of its annual awards.
When and where will the FTA 2023 Awards take place?
The FTA 2023 Awards will take place in Doha, Qatar, on October 25th, where 20 finalists will present their work to a prestigious jury of fashion experts and industry leaders. The finalists were selected by an advisory board of 25 members, including editors, stylists, photographers, designers, and influencers from around the world.
What are the categories and prizes of the FTA 2023 Awards?
The finalists are competing in five categories: Ready-to-Wear, Evening Wear, Jewelry, Accessories, and the France Sozzani Debut Talent Award. The latter is named after the late editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia, who was a champion of young talent and diversity in fashion. The award is dedicated to a current or newly graduated fashion student from the MENA region.
In addition to the five categories, FTA has also invited Nigeria as a guest country to participate in the 2023 Awards, through a separate sixth prize: the Guest Country Award. The Nigerian designers will undergo the same judging process as the other FTA finalists, helping young creatives in emerging markets build a global network of contacts.
The winners of each category will receive a financial grant ranging from $100.000 to $200.000, depending on the size of their business, while $25.000 is up for grabs for the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award and Guest Country Award. Ready-to-Wear, Accessories and Jewelry Award winners will also receive a one-year mentorship program by MATCHSFASHION, who will carry their collection for one season, while Harrods will carry the Evening Wear category winner’s collection. A series of mentorship will be awarded to all six winners by other partners such as Bicester Village, Maison Pyramide, and Vogue Italia.
Who are the FTA 2023 finalists?
The FTA 2023 finalists are:
· Ready-to-Wear Award
o Ahmed Amer (Lebanon)
o Elise Testot (Syria)
o Sarah Alhamdan (Saudi Arabia)
o Zeid Hijazi (Jordan)
· Evening Wear Award
o Amir Al Kasm (Syria)
o Cynthia Merhej (Lebanon)
o Sara Chraibi (Morocco)
o Yassmin Saleh (Lebanon)
· Jewelry Award
o Anas Alomaim (Kuwait)
o Katarina Tarazi (Lebanon)
o Nour Ben Cheikh & Clementine Lecointre (Tunisia)
o Shereen Shawky (Egypt)
· Accessories Award
o Amel Batita (Algeria)
o Dina Baheir (Egypt)
o Omar Taha & Lily Max (Egypt)
o Oubadah Nouktah (Syria)
· Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award
o Adam Alaoui Elyasse (Morocco)
o Amina Galal (Egypt)
o Batoul Omar al-Rahdan (Jordan)
o Maissane Nour Zinai (Algeria)
· Guest Country Award
o Adeju Thompson (Nigeria)
o Iniye Tokyo James (Nigeria)
o Keneth Ize (Nigeria)
o Nkwo Onwuka (Nigeria)
We wish all the finalists the best of luck and look forward to seeing their creations on the FTA 2023 Awards runway.
