Fashion Trust Arabia Announces Finalists for the 2024 Awards
Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) proudly unveils the talented designers who are finalists for the FTA 2024 Awards. The FTA Advisory Board has meticulously curated a list of 18 emerging designers from the MENA region, all vying for one of six prestigious awards. Additionally, four finalists have been selected from Spain as the Guest Country this year.
The FTA Advisory Board is composed of industry luminaries, including Adam Baidawi, Ana Khouri, and Nina Garcia, among others. These esteemed professionals played an integral role in the selection process. The finalists will showcase their collections to an esteemed jury in Marrakech on October 24, 2024, with winners announced during the FTA Awards ceremony that evening.
The 2024 Finalists
This year’s finalists for the FTA 2024 Awards include:
- Ready-to-Wear Award: Kawthar Alhoraish (Saudi Arabia), Nadine Mosallam (Egypt), Naïma Trabelsi (Tunisia)
- Evening Wear Award: Hamza Guelmouss & Valentin Nicot (Morocco), Tara Babylon (Iraq), Yasmin Mansour (Egypt)
- Jewelry Award: Karl Toufic Yazigi (Lebanon), Noura Alserkal (United Arab Emirates), Sara Naif AlSaud, Noura Abdulaziz Al Saud, Mashael Khalid Al Saud (Saudi Arabia)
- Accessories Award: Dara Hamarneh (Jordanian/Palestinian), Jihane Boumediane (Morocco), Reem Hamed (Egypt)
- Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award: Mahmood Al Safi (Iraq), Mira Maktabi (Lebanon), Sylwia Nazzal (Palestinian/Jordanian)
- Fashion Tech: Batoul al-Rashdan (Jordan), Hazem Samy Ali (Egypt), Sarah Salameh (Palestine)
Guest Country Partnership – Spain
In an exciting development, Spain has been invited as the guest country for the FTA 2024 Awards. This includes a dedicated Guest Country Award, allowing Spanish designers to participate in the same rigorous judging process as the FTA finalists, enhancing global connectivity among emerging talents.
The finalists for the Guest Country (Spain) Award are:
- Acromatyx (Francisco Barroso & Javier Garcia)
- Ernesto Naranjo
- Juan Vidal
- Leandro Cano
FTA Grant & 2024 Mentorships
Winners will receive financial grants ranging from $100,000 to $200,000, based on their business scale, with the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award winner receiving $50,000. Collections from the Evening Wear, Ready-to-Wear, Accessories, and Jewelry categories will have the opportunity to be showcased at Harrods for one season.
Winners will also benefit from a year-long mentorship with The Bicester Collection and an internship at Huntsman for the Ready-to-Wear winner, focusing on creating a capsule collection for the retailer’s e-commerce platform. Moreover, a tailored mentorship program emphasizing sustainability and ethical fashion practices will be provided to all winners, along with a bespoke two-day program in London in partnership with notable industry entities.
About Fashion Trust Arabia
Fashion Trust Arabia is a dynamic non-profit organization dedicated to discovering and nurturing design talent within the MENA region. Since its inception in 2018, under the patronage of prominent figures, FTA has become a vital initiative in the region, offering financial support and mentorship to aspiring designers preparing for the global market.
The previous year’s winners showcased remarkable talent, featuring designers from Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Morocco. The FTA continues to drive awareness and support for the flourishing fashion industry in the MENA region, unlocking opportunities for local creative talents.
