With the first initiative of its kind, Fashion Trust Arabia is back bringing awareness to up and coming designers from the region.

With five winning designers receiving a final grant cup of $200,000 along with a one-year partnership with the London-based global luxury retailer Matchesfashion.com, inclusive of a mentorship programme as they showcase their collections across all channels.

This year, FTA has had a record number of applications, according to co-founder and co-char, Tania Fares.

“We received a record number of over 800 applications and had an immense pool of talent this year,” she said. “We feel that designers and businesses need assistance now more than ever.

“I wish all the amazing finalists the best of luck, they are all exceptionally talented.”

Fares’ co-chair of FTA Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, also said, “Even though we are living in uncertain times, we are more committed than ever to supporting talent from the MENA region”.

The finalists from the FTA 2021 awards include

Ready-to-Wear Award – Cynthia Merhej (Lebanon), Lama Jouni (Lebanon), Maram Aboul Enein (Egypt), and Zaid Affas (Iraq).

Eveningwear Award – Elie Mizrahi (Lebanon), Harith Hashim (Iraq), Laith Maalouf (Jordan) and Mohamed Benchellal (Morocco)

Jewellery Award – Alia Bin Omair (UAE), Azza Skhiri Bouchamaoui (Tunisia), Julien Riad Sahyoun (Lebanon), Tania & Dima Nawbar (Lebanon)

Accessories Award – Billal Fellah (Algeria), Dania Shinkar (Saudi Arabia), Haya Al AbdulKareem (Kuwait), and Zakaria Bendriouich (Morocco).

Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award – AbdelGader El Tayeb Al Sadig (Sudan), Malik Thomas Jalil Kydd (Iraq), Mina Tahir by Mintallah Tahir (Egypt) and Roudha by Roudha Ahmed Almazroei (Qatar)

The finalists will present their work to the FTA Jury in Doha on March 25, 2021, with the winners being announced during the evening’s FTA 2021 Awards ceremony.

For more information regarding the programme visit fashiontrustarabia.com.

– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram

Images: Supplied