Fashion Trust Arabia Announces Its 2023 Award Finalists
From ready-to-wear designers to debut talent, here are the finalists for the Fashion Trust Arabia Prize 2023
The Fashion Trust Arabia finalists for 2023 have been announced and here’s what we know about each of the designers….
Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) is a non-profit organisation with a commitment towards finding, funding and nurturing talented designers across the MENA region combined with raising a cultural awareness to its fashion industry.
Fashion Trust Arabia was developed in 2018 by co-founder Tania Fares and co-chair HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and held under the patronage of Honorary Chair HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. To be a part of the FTA, applications are submitted from emerging designers in the MENA region, and the FTA Advisory Board selects 20 designers as their finalists who shall have the chance to win one of the five FTA Awards available at the annual awards ceremony.
This years’ Advisory Board is comprised of Ana Khouri, Beka Gvishiani, Carljin Jacos, Carlos Nazario, Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele, Kelly Wearstler, Michael Ward, Miral Youssef, Nadia Dhouib, Peter Dundas, Piergiorgio Del Moro, Piotrek Panszyck and Beckett Fogg, Sarah Staudinger, Tyler Mitchell and Valerie Messika. The returning Advisory Board members of last year’s edition are Adam Baidawi, Caroline Issa, Fabio Piras, Imruh Asha, Nina Garcia, Saif Mahdhi, Sara Sozzani Maino and Tiffany Godoy.
There is also a Guest Country (Nigeria) category where four more finalists are selected. The finalists from this category go through the same judging process with the FTA Jury as the other finalists. For this category the FTA are in partnership with the EMERGE Initiative. The finalists have been chosen by an independent Advisory Board with Michelle Elie Meire, Ugo Mozie, Mobolaji, Dawodu, Desiree Ejoh, Sasa Thomann.
Fashion Trust Arabia 2023 Award Finalists
Ready-to-Wear
Ahmed Amer – Lebanon:
Ahmed Amer is renowned for his ready-to-wear pieces and is based in Beirut. He went through Creative Space Beirut where he was able to pursue his interest in fashion. Ahmed is currently the creative director at Inaash where he maintains his Palestinian embroidery roots. In his brand Ahmed transfers emotion into his work which has been presented at Dubai’s Arab Fashion Week. He has also worked with boutiques such as Al Ostoura, FLTRD, and Theslow,
Elise Testot – Syria:
Elise Testot is a Syrian and French designer based in Paris. Her brand places great emphasis on creativity inspired by 1950’s aesthetics and a tribute to the woman who constantly inspires her, her Syrian mother. Elise has grown up across the Middle East and the Gulf which has enabled her to connect with her Middle Eastern roots and further her passion for her culture which she ensures to portray through her work. Her aims are to blend together her two identities, European and Middle Eastern roots into her designs.
Sarah Alhamdan – Saudi Arabia:
Sarah Alhamdan is based out of London where she created her brand, Mood of Thought. Her brand is an inspired collaboration of a commitment to the environment, creativity and design. She is influenced by architecture, Art Deco and 70’s interiors. The brand aims to produce styles that are a fit for any mood, body type and style.
Zeid Hijazi – Jordan/Palestine:
Zeid is a Palestinian designer and created his brand in 2019. He is also a Central Saint Martin’s graduate. The brand was set up to challenge the norms providing pieces inspired by a dystopian Arab universe and heritage of Middle Eastern craftsmanship. In 2020, Zein won the FTA Debut Talent prize which led to the eventual release of his label, and now participation in the Ready-to-Wear category.
Eveningwear
Amir Al Kasm – Syria
Amir Al Kasm’s designs blend together opposites for example, good meeting evil. The brand hosts various niche lines from evening wear to bridal pieces as well as upcycled pieces and much more.
Cynthia Merhej – Lebanon
Cynthia’s brand Renaissance Renaissance was created in 2016 with evidence of her Beirut roots intertwined into it. Cynthia spent much of her childhood in her mother’s atelier learning about fashion from a young age. Her brand aims to have modern day influences of women as well as elements of historical craftmanship. Throughout her career, Cynthia’s brand has already been nominated for significant awards such as the LVMH Prize (2021) and the FTA Prize (2021).
Sara Chraibi – Morocco
Sara Chraibi was taught many embroidery and sewing skills by her mother from a young age. Later on, in life she moved to Paris to obtain her master’s degree where her interest in fashion piqued. In 2014 she founded her couture house where her embroidery is a staple. Sara’s collection is also inspired by her North African and Mediterranean points of view and has shown her collections during the official calendar of Parisian haut couture week.
Yassmin Saleh – Lebanon
The brand was founded by sisters Yassmin and Farah Saleh in 2018. The brand has a ready-to-wear line for women with a great story behind each garment focusing on modern day socio-psychological phenomenons. It’s a brand for those who have an eye for great quality sourced clothing and craftsmanship.
Jewellery
Anas Alomaim – Kuwait:
Anas Alomaim founded jewellery brand OŪMÄEM in 2017. The brand investigates abstract designs inspired by Arab architecture with each line focusing on a specific theme.
Katarina Tarazi – Lebanon:
Katrina’s brand, launched in 2021, was inspired by her interest in Victorian toys wanting to construct jewellery with hidden messages and a communication with the wearer. She makes her jewellery in Beirut with a tale stored in all her designs which require great historical research.
Nour Ben Cheikh & Clémentine Lecointre -Tunisia:
Clémentine Lecointre and Nour Ben Cheikh., (L and B, pronounced ÈLBÉ, meaning “my heart” in some Arabic dialects) first encountered eachother in 2015 working in a luxury fashion house. ÈLBÉ was founded in 2018, and the letters L and B was intertwined into their brands emblem as an homage to friendship. Clémentine was born in Paris however, Nour was born in Tunisia but moved to Paris in 2008. The two women are also freelance designers for luxury brands such as Chanel, Hermès and more.
Shereen Shawky – Egypt:
Shereen is based out of Cairo which is where she founded her Dys-euphoria jewellery brand. The name of her brand is an oxymoron blending together dysphoria and euphoria. Her first collection A Tribute to Benben was influenced by the myth of ancient Egypt hosting many pyramidal shape pieces to create a relationship between the past and present.
Accessories
Amel Batita – Algeria:
Amel is a French designer with Algerian and Tunisian roots based in Paris. She created Amel Batita Silk Scarves with a reinvention of the typical silk scarf. Her love for scarves developed from accompanying her father on his trips to Italy. Her creations always host intricate patterns with their own unique canvas and use of Artcycling.
Dina Baheir – Egypt:
Dina’s brand is called Scopa which is a brand dedicated to Egypt and Africa’s cultures. The brand converts wooden hand-holds into works of arts that can be worn. The designs consist of detailed painted motifs with a strong focus on sustainability as well as embracing cultural diversity to make its wearers feel special. Dina’s relationship with her mother, Amal helps drive her passion for her brand.
Omar Taha & Lily Max – Egypt:
Omar and Lily both co-designed and creative directed, A BETTER FEELING along with Xander Ghost who is the founder. The brand is based in Cairo and fuelled by the desire of creating a connection and synergy between the product and individual.
Oubadah Nouktah – Syria:
Oubadah’s brand Nouktah means point in Arabic, hosts geometric pieces influenced by his Syrian heritage. The brands lines are inspired by Oubadah’s interest of automotive design incorporated into the lines with a focus on sustainability. With some pieces created from scrap car parts turned into luxury bags.
Debut Talent
Adam Elyasse – Morocco:
Adams’s brand is called Adam.é which is set in the relationship between power and pain shaping ones human condition and is influenced by his own journey. He spent many summers in Morocco and winters in urban areas of East London witnessing a contrast of environments which also influences his designs.
Amina Galal – Egypt:
Amina has a BFA in Fashion Design from Parsons Paris. She has worked across a variety of countries able to witness many cultures and craftsmanship’s which has helped influence her work. Her belief is that clothes all have a story to be told and are animate pieces.
Batoul Omar al-Rashdan – Jordan:
Batoul’s brand Studio B.O.R aims to merge together innovation and sustainability and is influenced by local traditions and landscapes. The brand uses high-tech processes and eco-conscious materials. There have been 3D printed dresses, clutches/bags and many more accessories produced which have been displayed on international TV channels, magazines and exhibitions across the world. The brand also has a great dedication to sustainability.
Maïssane Nour Zinaï – Algeria:
Maïssane’s label is titled Aristhane which she created shortly post her graduation from Central Saint Martins, London. Her brand is sport-orientated with a futuristic flare blending reality and fiction together. Aristhane is influenced by the designers Algerian and Sufi roots merging cultures, languages and much more into its garments.
Guest Country
Adeju Thompson:
Adeju has formed the Lagos Space Programme created in 2018. The brand hosts high-end clothing with a theme of African futures conveying a sense of individuality.
Iniye Tokyo James:
Iniye’s brand was created in 2015 called Tokyo James which is a Nigerian-British luxury brand. Iniye’s menswear collection uses traditional Saville Row tailoring and the use of unusual Pantone and textile choices. The brand’s womenswear collection was created and released recently in 2022.
Kenneth Ize:
Kenneth’s brand explores and reimagines a wide array of cultural aesthetics of Nigerian craft to create the luxury brand. Kenneth is able to achieve this through working with communities throughout Nigeria blending tradition with contemporary design and production.
Nkwo Onwuka:
Nkwo places a strong emphasis on sustainability and depicting a positive vision of Africa and it’s traditions throughout the brand.
The winners of the FTA awards shall be provided with a financial grant from $100,000 – $200,000 cash prize according to the size of their business along with $25,000 for the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award and Guest Country Award.
For more information visit fashiontrustarabia.com