Harper’s Bazaar Arabia Wins Fashion Magazine of The Year at EMIGALA 2022
The star-studded fashion awards ceremony saw Arab talent clean up, as the likes of Nadine Kanso, Mohamed Benchellal and Joelle Mardinian all took home a golden statue
On Thursday evening regional celebrities and fashion industry insiders gathered at the Burj Al Arab to celebrate this year’s EMIGALA awards, one of the region’s most prestigious fashion award ceremonies that aims to highlight the exceptional talent from MENA and beyond.
Harper’s Bazaar Arabia took home the award for Fashion Magazine of the Year, as Editor in Chief Olivia Phillips accepted the golden statue on stage.
“The longer that I’m in this industry and the longer that I edit Harper’s Bazaar Arabia the more I’ve realised that, as much as we love fashion – and it really is up there – it’s not actually the best thing that we do,” she said.
“The best thing that we do at Bazaar Arabia is that we get to tell incredible stories from the incredible people that we meet. We feel very, very lucky that we are living in a time and in a region – the MENA region is such a phenomenal place to be right now, and it’s so full of the most incredible people and stories – and that we’re able to create a magazine right here, right now.”
Bil Arabi founder Nadine Kanso took home the award for Accessories Designer of the Year while Dutch-Moroccan designer, Mohamed Benchellal, won Womenswear Designer of the Year.
“I’m truly honored to receive this award,” Mohamed said. “Women are the most beautiful creations and for me to be able to dress them, empower them, makes me feel very honored. I would like to dedicate this award to all the women I’ve met — and all the women I’m going to meet.”
With performances by Haifa Wehbe, Hind Al-Bahraineya, Dimash Qudaibergen and others the evening was certainly a night to remember.
Other awardees included Lebanese-Egyptian singer Haifa Wehbe, who won style icon of the year; Joelle Mardinian and Kazakh Singer Dimash Qudaibergen – who touchingly dedicated his award to his grandmothers.
Photo credit: Adel Rashid