The fifth annual edition of Fashion Trust Arabia, which was to be hosted in Qatar, may have been cancelled, but that hasn’t stopped it from celebrating talent in the region.
On December 12 and 13, this year’s 24 finalists (spread over six categories) presented their collections to the FTA jury, which included the likes of designers Zuhair Murad, Amina Muaddi, Peter Dundas, Erdem Moralıoğlu, Ana Khouri, Yoon Ahn and Giambattista Valli, along with the likes of Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing and Gaia Repossi, to name a few.
After a two-day online deliberation session held in the presence of co-chairs HE Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani, Tania Fares and a special panel of judges and advisory board members, the seven winners (with two tying in the Evening Wear category) of the FTA Prize 2023 have now officially been announced. Below, meet this year’s names to know.
Amir Al Kasm (Evening Wear)
Photo: Courtesy Fashion Trust Arabia
This year’s Evening Wear co-winner focuses his designs on contradictions, where dark meets light and strength meets vulnerability. The result is a series of creations (both formal and bridal) that are as unique as they are fashion-forward. Al Kasm’s evening wear looks use upcycled elements, instilling a feeling of empowerment and responsibility into each ensemble.
Cynthia Merhej (Evening Wear)
Photo: Courtesy Fashion Trust Arabia
Cynthia Merhej’s label Renaissance Renaissance gives occasion wear a new lens, blurring the lines between modern thought processes and historical craftsmanship. The third generation couturier grew up sketching, styling, and photographing in her mother’s atelier, and developed her skills later at Central Saint Martins and the Royal College of Art. Now based in Beirut, Merhej offers up edgy evening wear that supporting Lebanese craftsmanship.
Ahmed Amer (Ready-to-Wear)
Photo: Courtesy Fashion Trust Arabia
The Beirut-based designer and illustrator studied interior architecture at The Lebanese University before joining Creative Space Beirut in 2014, a non-profit school for fashion design. Come 2022, Ahmed Amer joined Inaash, a social enterprise preserving Palestinian emboirdery and empowering women, as its in-house designer and creative director. Amer’s own namesake brand spotlights minimal and organic illustrations.
Katarina Tarazi (Jewelry)
Photo: Courtesy Fashion Trust Arabia
Inspired by her childhood love for collecting Victorian toys and trinkets, Katarina Tarazi creates jewelry that hold hidden messages and interact mechanically with their wearers. Crafted in Beirut, each piece of jewelry brings together design elements from a specific historical era. Her creative process begins with hand drawings which are then turned into 3D renderings brought to life by Beirut’s artisans in 18k gold.
Omar Taha and Lily Max (Accessories)
Photo: Courtesy Fashion Trust Arabia
Based in Cairo, Egypt, A Better Feeling stands out for pieces that spotlight the principle of achieving connection, dedicated to creating synergy between product and person through a symbiotic visual identity and material language. The brand’s eyewear is especially exciting for those who love transformative fashion. Foldable glasses make on-the-go fashion easier than ever before, while splatter-effect lenses serve as conversation-starters.
Adam Elyasse (Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award)
Photo: Courtesy Fashion Trust Arabia
Bringing together aesthetic design and functionality, Adam Elyasse’s brand Adam.é stands out for pieces that speak of power and pain. Born and raised in East Londong, the designer also spent every summer in Morocco, and his creations can be best described as a harmony of contrasts, blending elements from different cultures and his own personal narrative.
Adeju Thompson (Guest Country Award Nigeria – in partnership with EMERGE Initiative)
Photo: Courtesy Fashion Trust Arabia
Founded in 2018, Adeju Thompson’s label Lagos Space Programme offers ready-to-wear pieces that explore a range of concepts through multidisciplinary collaborative projects. Each project explored African futures via slow fashion and by looking back at Thompson’s own life experiences.
What Fashion Trust Arabia offers its winners
Each winning designer this year will receive a financial grant of $100,000 to $200,000 cash prize, depending on the size of their business, along with $25,000 for the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award. Winners of the Ready-to-Wear, Accessories and Jewelry categories will also win a one-year mentorship program with Matches, and have their collection featured on the platform. As for the Evening-Wear winner, Harrods will be carrying one collection. Huntsman will also offer Ready-to-Wear category winner an internship in London, where the designer will get the opportunity to create a capsule collection for its e-commerce platform.
What makes Fashion Trust Arabia so special is the fact that its winners also receive some extremely special benefits. On the list are mentorships with The Bicester Collection, and showroom representation and PR consultancy by Maison Pyramide. Along with this, Maison De Mode, the luxury ethical fashion retail platform will also offer all winners a tailored mentorship focusing on the importance of sustainability and ethical fashion practices.
Launched in 2018 under the patronage of HH Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser as honorary chair, Fashion Trust Arabia has supported and uplifted countless creatives in the region over the years, giving them once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to share their craft with the world. Just like the years before this, the announcement of the winners is a proud and inspiring moment for all budding designers in the Middle East.
