Qatar’s Fashion Trust Arabia Celebrates 2023 Winners in London
Qatar’s Fashion Trust Arabia threw a glamorous party at Claridge’s Hotel in London to honor its cohort of winners for 2023.
The star-studded event saw Swedish-born Somali model Ikram Abdi and US Mexican actress Salma Hayek in attendance, alongside the talented prize-winning designers.
In December, the organization announced the seven winners of the prestigious Fashion Trust Arabia Prize.
Due to the humanitarian crisis in Palestine, the usual awards ceremony was canceled, but a virtual deliberation session was held to select the winners.
Womenswear designer Amir Al-Kasm and Renaissance founder Cynthia Merhej were joint winners in the evening wear category.
The finalists were chosen by a panel that included Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and fashion writer Tania Fares, who established the trust in 2018.
Other winners included Lebanon-based designer Ahmed Amer for ready-to-wear, British-Lebanese designer Katarina Tarazi for jewelry, and the design duo Omar Taha and Lily Max of eyewear label A Better Feeling for accessories.
Menswear designer Adam Elyasse received the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent award, while Nigerian designer Adeju Thompson of Lagos Space Programme won the Guest Country Award.
The upcoming sixth edition of the Fashion Trust Arabia awards ceremony will be held in Marrakech, Morocco, as part of the Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture.
Organizers announced on Instagram in April that the event is scheduled for October.
The organization stated, “In line with our dedication to diversity and inclusivity, we’ve chosen Marrakech as our hosting location for the FTA Prize 2024, inviting talents worldwide to explore and showcase Morocco’s cultural heritage.”
Fashion Trust Arabia, a non-profit organization, offers financial support, guidance, and mentorship to emerging designers from the Middle East and North Africa.
The event is renowned for attracting industry heavyweights, with past attendees including Bella Hadid, Naomi Campbell, Karolina Kourkova, and Valentino’s creative director Pierpaolo Picciolini.