Within an unprecedented scope in the Arab world, Fashion Trust Arabia celebrated it’s official launch and award in five design categories on March 28th in Doha. The most comprehensive and highest doted award for fashion designers in our region, is the brainchild of Lebanese entrepreneur Tania Fares, who first launched Fashion Trust in collaboration with the British Fashion Council back in 2011. Supported by HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and Co-Chair HE Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani, Executive Committee members that includes regional and international key figures in the fashion industry including the likes of Reem Acra, Wissam Al Mana, Rabih Kayrouz , Susan Sabet and an industry star-studded panel of judges such as Antoine Arnault, Pierpaolo Piccioli, Giambattista Valli, Olivier Rouisteng , Zuhair Murad, Vicktoria Beckham, Diane Von Fuerstenberg and Sara Sozzani Maino, Fashion Trust Arabia attracted world wide attention to regional designers
From a total of over 250 applicants of both established and emerging designers from 15 Arab countries and nationalities, 25 were pre selected as finalists by the FTA Executive Committee members. They met with the judges in Doha who selected the winners in each the evening wear, ready-to-wear, accessories, shows and jewelery category, taking home a prize money of up to $200,000 in addition to mentorship by industry peers.
The FTA launch brought together the biggest names in the global fashion industry including Alexander Wang, Alice Temperley, Zac Posen, Nathalie Massenet, Nathalia Vodianova, Naomi Campbell, Olivia Palermo to name a few and was topped by a live performance of Carla Bruni at the gala. And then the big moment announcing the 6 winners:
KRIKOR JABOTIAN in the evening wear category
RONI HELOU and SALIM AZZAM, sharing the prize in the ready-to-wear category
SABRY MAROUF in the hand bag category
MUKHI SISTERS in the jewellery category
ZYNE in the shoes category
