FASHION TRUST ARABIA ANNOUNCES 2023 AWARD FINALISTS

The non-profit organization Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) is proud to announce the designers who have made the finalist list for the FTA 2023 Awards.

The FTA 2023 Advisory Board was responsible for selecting 20 designer finalists from applications submitted by emerging talent from across the MENA region, for a chance to win one of the 5 FTA Awards.

This year’s FTA Advisory Board include 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.

As for the Guest Country category - Nigeria, the 4 finalists have been shortlisted by an independent Advisory Board which include, Michelle Elie Meire, Ugo Mozie, Mobolaji, Dawodu, Desiree Ejoh, Sasa Thomann

The finalists will present their work to the FTA Jury in Doha on October 25 th, 2023. The 6 winners will be announced during the evening’s FTA 2023 Awards ceremony.

THE 24 FINALISTS

The finalists for this year’s FTA 2023 Awards are:

Ready-to-Wear Award

Ahmed Amer (Lebanon)

Elise Testot (Syria)

Sarah Alhamdan (Saudi Arabia)

Zeid Hijazi (Jordan)

Eveningwear Award

Amir Al Kasm (Syria)

Cynthia Merhej (Lebanon)

Sara Chraibi (Morocco)

Yassmin Saleh (Lebanon)

Jewelry Award

Anas Alomaim (Kuwait)

Katarina Tarazi (Lebanon)

Nour Ben Cheikh & Clémentine Lecointre (Tunis)

Shereen Shawky (Egypt)

Accessories Award

Amel Batita (Algeria)

Dina Baheir (Egypt)

Omar Taha & Lily Max (Egypt)

Oubadah Nouktah (Syria)

Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award

Adam Alaoui Elyasse (Morocco)

Amina Galal (Egypt)

Batoul Omar al-Rashdan (Jordan)

Maïssane Nour Zinaï (Algeria)

GUEST COUNTRY PARTNERSHIP – NIGERIA

FTA has invited Nigeria as a guest country to take part in the upcoming 2023 edition of the FTA Awards, through a separate sixth prize – the Guest Country Award.

The Nigerian designers will undergo the same judging process with the FTA Jury as the other FTA finalists. 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 in partnership with EMERGE Initiative.

The finalists for the Guest Country Award are:

Adeju Thompson

Iniye Tokyo James

Kenneth Ize

Nkwo Onwuka

FTA GRANT & 2023 MENTORSHIPS

The winning designers receive a financial grant of $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 Guest Country Award.

Ready-to-Wear, Accessories and Jewelry category winners will also receive a one-year mentorship program by MATCHES, who will carry their collections for one season. Harrods will carry the eveningwear category winner’s collection.

In addition to retail opportunities, FTA offers winners incredible benefits, including mentorships with The Bicester Collection and showroom representation and PR consultancy by Maison Pyramide. Huntsman will offer the Ready-to-Wear category winner an internship in London. As part of the internship the winner will be creating a capsule collection to be sold on the retailer’s e-commerce platform.

Luxury ethical fashion retail platform Maison De Mode will offer a tailored mentorship to all six winners that focuses on the importance of sustainability and ethical fashion practices.