Today, July 11, is a special day for every young Middle Eastern fashion designer. It is a date that can change the rest of their lives. Today, July 11, is the launching day of the 2022 Fashion Trust Arabia Prize applications.
It is not easy to dream, think, speak and breathe fashion when you are born in Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, or Yemen. In fact, it’s not easy at all, and the journey of a future Azzedine Alaïa, Elie Saab, Rabih Kayrouz or Reem Acra can quickly turn into a real and unbearable Golgotha. An utter nightmare in which almost every young aspiring and/or emerging fashion designer is left to his/her own devices, with absolutely no support or supervision, no artists’ residency, no mentorship, no technical or logistical help. Absolutely nothing.
But this is where Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) comes in, and this is why it should be, rather sooner than later, acknowledged as a public utility. FTA is a non-profit organization that aims to provide financial and business support, as well as international recognition, to fashion designers in the Arab world. It launched in September 2018 under the patronage of HH Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser as honorary chair, and HE Sheikha Al-Mayassa Bint Hamad Al-Thani as co-chair.
In fact, FTA is and does way more than that. FTA is a platform, an incubator, a particle accelerator that makes every basic need and opportunity possible, easier and faster. How? It is simple, efficient and straight to the point. Once a year, a Prize (between USD 100,000 and USD 200,000) is awarded to a winner chosen among 4 finalists in 5 different categories: Ready To Wear, Evening Dress, Jewelry, Accessories and Debut Talent (USD 25,000). Chosen among hundreds of applicants by an Advisory Board and a Jury made up of the biggest names in fashion, the finalists will quickly discover that an Arab fashion designer can indeed grow and get the international recognition, the way she or he has always dreamt of.
And so, being pure math, and pure chemistry: Fashion Trust Arabia and Young Middle Eastern fashion designer is definitely a thing. And the terms of eligibility for entering into the FTA big family are simple: being talented, creative, bold, eager to conquer the world with her/his creations and determined to make people dream. Once all of that is acquired, it is as easy as clicking on a link.
Amna Alsalem, Azzi & Osta, Basscoutur, Boyfriend, Donna Hourani, Hamza Guelmouss, Hussein Bazaza, Joanna Laura Constantine, Karim Adduchi, Karma Salman, Krikor Jabotian, Marzook, Mukhi Sisters, Nafsika Skourti, Okhtein, Poise, Reemami, Roni Helou, Sabry Marouf, Salim Azzam, Sadafa, Sandra Mansour, Yasmin Mansour, Zyne, Ahmed Serour, Alexandra Hakim, Ammanii, Andrea Wazen, Bazza Alzouman, Beige, Born In Exile, Èlbé, Emergency Room, Fatima Albaker, Ilyes Ouali, Intissar Baiz, Kamushki, Liudmila, Maya Chantout, Omer Asim, Oūmäem, Ramla, Sara Mrad, Shahira Lasheen, Tamarzizt, Yousef Akbar, Zakaria Bendriouich, Zeid Hijazi, Abdelgader El-Tayeb Al-Sadig, Alia Bin Omair, Azza Skhiri Bouchamaoui, Bilal Fellah, Cynthia Merhej, Dania Shinkar, Eli Mizrahi, Harith Hashim, Haya Al-Abdulkareem, Juanita Garcia, Julien Riad Sahyoun, Laith Maalouf, Lama Jouni, Malik Thomas Jalil Kydd, Maram Aboul Enein, Mina Tahir, Mohamed Benchellal, Roudha Al-Mazroei, Tania and Dima Nawbar, and Zaid Affas did it in 2018, 2019, and 2020. They just clicked on this magic link : https://fashiontrustarabia.com/how-to-apply/
Now it’s your turn!
Watch this short film meant to invite you – even urge you – to apply now. A clip that shows a community of creatives and industry experts that have excelled in their respective fields encouraging you in their own words to step up to the plate and do what it takes to boost your career.
Need we say more? Apply now.
