Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) hosted the FTA 2024 Prize, the sixth edition of the prestigious annual awards ceremony, at the iconic El Badi Palace in Marrakech, Morocco.

The event 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 were present to celebrate the seven designers who walked away with the honours.

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 winners were chosen by a prestigious FTA Jury, consisting of industry experts, during the highly anticipated deliberation day at the Beldi Country Club.

The 24 finalists displayed their collections and competed in various 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.

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 Winning Designers

  • Ready-to-Wear: Yasmin Mansour
  • Evening Wear: Nadine Mosallam
  • Accessories: Reem Hamed
  • Jewellery: Noura Abdulaziz Al Saud, Sara Naif Al Saud and Mashael Khalid Al Saud
  • Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award: Sylwia Nazzal
  • Fashion Tech Award: Batoul al-Rashdan
  • Guest Country Award – Spain: Francisco Barroso & Javier Garcia

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.

GO: Visit www.fashiontrustarabia.com for more information.