Eveningwear is all-important in the MENA region – a lush, glamorous gown is a true must-have for women across the Arab world. This year, one of the four following fashion designers will win the FTA Prize in the eveningwear category.
Eli Mizrahi’s eveningwear label Mônot exudes sense and sensuality. Designed with glamorous backdrops in mind, Eli’s lush gowns shimmer with unabashed sexiness – as was most notably evident in his debut fashion campaign, which featured the legendary Kate Moss donning Mônot dresses in Saudi Arabia’s magnificent city of AlUla. Born in Beirut, the Lebanese designer is now based in New York but produces the bulk of his eveningwear in Lebanon.
Of mixed Iraqi and Lebanese descent, Harith Hashim strikes a delicate balance between minimalist sophistication and pure femininity to create his designs. Under the Harithand eveningwear label, which he launched in 2012, he imagines flowing dresses in either muted tones or explosive colors that are Red Carpet-worthy. Enthralled with art and design ever since he could remember, Harith went against his mother’s wishes to study medicine and made it a point to pursue his love of fashion.
Jordanian designer Laith Maalouf earned a degree in fashion at Lebanon’s ESMOD and trained under celebrated Lebanese designer Elie Saab. He then launched his eponymous label in 2013. Featuring inspired eveningwear, the Laith Maalouf brand showcases layering, draping, complex patterns and embroidery, resulting in memorable gowns that reflect Laith’s passion for photography, drawing, art and graphic design.
Under the Benchellal label, Amsterdam-based Moroccan designer Mohamed Benchellal creates elegant eveningwear that manages to be timeless and contemporary, while being mindful to the planet. His designs have been worn by the likes of supermodel Helena Christensen and pop icon Camila Cabello, to name a few.
