FASHION TRUST ARABIA ANNOUNCES FTA PRIZE 2023 WINNERS

Following Fashion Trust Arabia’s decision to cancel its Fifth Annual Awards Ceremony that was scheduled to take place in Qatar this year, FTA held a two-day online deliberation session for the FTA Prize 2023 finalistsin the presence of co-chairs HE Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani, Tania Fares and an esteemed panel of judges and advisory board members including:

Ruba Abu-Nimah - Creative Director

Yoon Ahn - Designer

Gilda Ambrosio and Giorgia Tordini - Co-Founders and Creative Directors, The Attico

Imran Amed - Founder, Business of Fashion

Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele - Fashion Designer

Nadia Dhouib - Managing Director, Paco Rabanne

Peter Dundas - Co-Founder & Creative Director, DUNDAS

Michelle Elie Meire - Fashion Director

Erdem – Designer

Sofia Guellaty - Founder & Creative Director, Mille World

Beka Gvishiani - Founder, STYLE NOT COM

Caroline Issa - Chief Executive & Fashion Director, Tank

Ana Khouri - Jewelry Designer

Saif Mahdhi - Founder, Safe Management

Sara Maino - Creative Director, Fondazione Sozzani; Educational & Scouting Advisor, Vogue Italia

Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant - Creative Directors, Coperni

Ugo Mozieh - Stylist and Creative Director

Amina Muaddi - Designer

Zuhair Murad - Designer

Fabio Piras - Course Director of Central St Martin's MA Fashion Course

Rachid Mohamed Rachid – Chairman, Valentino

Gaia Repossi - Creative Director, Repossi

Samuel Ross – Designer

Olivier Rousteing - Creative Director, Balmain

Sasa Thomann - Creative Director

Giambattista Valli - Designer

Erin Walsh - Stylist

Kelly Wearstler - Founder & Principal, Kelly Wearstler

Liane Wiggins – Head of Womenswear MATCHES

Miral Youssef - President, Kering Middle East & Africa

24 finalists across 6 categories presented their collections on December 12th and 13th and the FTA Jury selected the 7 winners.

THE WINNERS

FTA is proud to announce the winners of this year’s FTA 2023 Awards:

• Amir Al Kasm (Evening Wear)

• Cynthia Merhej (Evening Wear)

• Ahmed Amer (Ready-to-Wear)

• Katarina Tarazi (Jewelry)

• Omar Taha and Lily Max (Accessories)

• Adam Elyasse (Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award)

• Adeju Thompson (Guest Country Award Nigeria - in partnership with EMERGE Initiative)

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.

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 Evening-Wear 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 ecommerce 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.

Fashion Trust Arabia would like to thank the immense support of its Jury and Advisory Board members.