We know for a fact that the region is full of amazing and already established fashion designers. We are also witnessing many aspiring up and coming talents working really hard to break into the business. All they need is just a little bit of help. Fashion Trust Arabia is committed to doing just that.
The unique philanthropic initiative is focused on finding, funding and nurturing design talent across the MENA region while bringing global awareness to its burgeoning fashion industry, and if you’re a budding designer you’ve got until November 30th to enter this incredible competition.
Born out of the success of the Fashion Trust UK, Founder Tania Fares established the Fashion Trust Arabia in the summer of 2018 alongside co-chair Her Excellency Sheikha Al-Mayassa, under the patronage of Honorable Chair Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser.
The pioneering initiative will continue its work into 2020 providing a catalyst in the form of financial awards. But more importantly the strategic world-class industry mentorship for those designers from the region will help them get ready for the international market.
The inaugural prizes awarded in 2019 saw talent selected and judged by industry figures including Alexander Wang, Antoine Arnault, Diane Von Furstenberg, Giambattista Valli, Natalie Massanet, Pierpaolo Piccioli, Oliver Rousteing, and Victoria Beckham amongst others.
The 2020 program gets an added Advisory Board to the prize of Alexia Niedzielski, Carmen Busquets, Fabio Piras, Gianluca Longo, Jefferson Hack, Julie Gilhart, Karla Welch, Natalie Kingham, Nez Gebreel, Roger Moukarzel, Saif Mahdhi, Sarah Andelman, Sarah Maino, Sarah Mower, Sofia Guellaty, Susie Lau and Tim Blanks, all of whom will employ their collective experience and insight in spotting talent and potential to select the shortlist of finalists from all applicants.
FTA Winners will receive up to $200,000 (61,000 KD) in financial grants alongside businesses, operational and strategic support including from FTA partners Matches Fashion, who will be e-tailing each of the 2019 winners on their site in Spring 2020. The Debut Talent winning graduate will receive a financial grant to help jump-start their business, and an intensive internship or mentorship at an atelier or showroom of one of the judge’s.
The mentorship program has so far also provided the winning designers with the opportunities to travel to New York and London for press previews and mentorship from key industry leaders. The winners included Salim Azzam and Roni Helou for their Ready to Wear designs. The Mukhi Sisters wowed the judges with their jewelry designs while Krikor Jabotian’s Evening Wear made us wish we got invited to more parties. Shoes and bags got their own category of winners, Zyne and Sabry Marouf respectively will make sure your outfit is on-point from head to toe. 2019 winners will be headed to London this month!
Budding designers will be excited to learn that applicants for the FTA 2020 fund are now open to them in the following five womenswear categories; Evening Wear, Ready to Wear, Accessories (Shoes/Bags), Jewelry (Fine and Fashion) and introducing Debut Talent as a category for fashion graduates.
There is an additional new award for 2020, Debut Talent (Arab Fashion Design Graduates 2018-2019) which aims to focus on recent graduates with potential and outstanding design talents to kick start their career and business. The award will be named after Franca Sozzani, in honor of her commitment and support to the talent in the MENA region.
Applications for all five categories are open to MENA based designers. Entries will be accepted up until November 30th 2019 through Fashion Trust Arabia’s official website where applicants can also see all criteria for entry. The awards will take place on March 25th 2020 at the newly opened Museum of Qatar, designed by renowned architect, Jean Nouvel. So mark your calendars, because it is going to be where fashion dreams come true.
To apply visit fashiontrustarabia.com and follow @fashiontrustarabia on Instagram to stay up to date with all of their exciting news. Featured image courtesy of Fashion Trust Arabia.
