The FTA 2024 Prize, the sixth edition of the prestigious annual awards ceremony, was hosted by Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) at the iconic El Badi Palace in Marrakech, Morocco.
And the stars were out in full force at the event which was held as part of the Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture, an initiative that seeks to nurture lasting connections between diverse communities through a series of cultural exchanges and collaborations.
International and regional celebrities as well as industry leaders had packed into the beautiful venue to see which seven designers, from the 24 finalists, would emerge triumphant in their respective categories.
The panel of judges, featuring some of the most prestigious names in the industry, included French luxury fashion house Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing, Italian luxury fashion brand Moncler’s CEO Remo Ruffini and Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad.
Saskia Lawaks photography
Saskia Lawaks photography
Saskia Lawaks photography
Saskia Lawaks photography
Saskia Lawaks photography
Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums and Co-Chair of Fashion Trust Arabia, welcomed guests alongside FTA Co-Founder Tania Fares. Together, they reiterated their commitment to supporting the next generation of fashion talent from the MENA region.
The ceremony, hosted by the renowned American actress Angela Bassett and Egyptian actor Ahmad Helmy, was attended by notable guests such as Alton Mason, Aya Nakamura, Balqees Fathi, Carla Bruni Sarkozy, Da’vine Joy Randolph, Evan Ross, Farida Khelfa, Halima Haden, Hande Erçel, Helena Christensen, Imaan Ammam, Jameela Jamil, James Blake, Jodie Turner-Smith, Isabelle Huppert, Lucien Laviscount, Nadine Njeim, Natalia Vodianova, Nicky Hilton, Paloma Elssesser, Paris Jackson, Precious Lee, Richard E. Grant, Taraji P Henson and Yasmine Sabri among others. British pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor rocked the stage as she performed her biggest hits.
The 24 finalists competed in different categories: Ready-to-Wear, Evening Wear, Accessories, Jewellery, the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award, the Guest Country Award (in partnership with Spain), and the newly launched Fashion Tech Award.
Egyptian designer Nadine Mosallam clinched the Ready-to-Wear category with her innovative, playful, culturally-inspired designs while Qatar’s Yasmin Mansour took the Evening Wear Prize with her elegant, original creations.
Meanwhile, Egyptian designer Reem Hamed’s footwear brand RAMLA won in the Accessories category with a delightful mix of traditional and modern design.
And Saudi brand A Piece Of Art (APOA), led by Noura Abdulaziz Al Saud, Sara Naif Al Saud and Mashael Khalid Al Saud, claimed pride of place in the jewellery category.
Meanwhile, the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award went to Palestinian-Jordanian designer Sylwia Nazzal, of Nazzal Studio, for her remarkable designs rooted in Palestinian heritage.
And the Fashion Tech Award was clinched by Jordanian multidisciplinary designer and digital fabricator Batoul Al-Rashdan of Studio B.O.R. for her creative use of technology and bio-based materials.
Finally, Spanish label Acromatyx, run by Xavi Garcia and Franx de Cristal, nabbed the Guest Country Award with their innovative designs
Each winning designer receives a cash prize ranging from $100,000 to $200,000, as well as a personalised, one-year mentorship program provided by FTA’s Retail Partners and a global network of industry professionals.
This comprehensive support covers vital topics in fashion business development, including sustainability through mentorship from Maison De Mode. Additionally, the winners of the Ready-to-Wear, Evening Wear, Accessories and Jewellery categories will have their collections carried at Harrods, the luxury department store in London, and Ounass in the MENA region.
The Winners
Ready-to-Wear: Yasmin Mansour
Evening Wear: Nadine Mosallam
Accessories: Reem Hamed (RAMLA)
Jewellery: Noura Abdulaziz Al Saud, Sara Naif Al Saud and Mashael Khalid Al Saud (APOA)
Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award: Sylwia Nazzal (Nazzal Studio)
Fashion Tech Award: Batoul al-Rashdan (Studio B.O.R.)
Guest Country Award – Spain: Francisco Barroso & Javier Garcia (Acromatyx)
FTA extend its heartfelt gratitude to the members of its Jury and Advisory Board for their continued support, without which the realisation of FTA’s mission in empowering emerging designers would not be possible.
For more information, please visit www.fashiontrustarabia.com.