DUBAI: Qatar’s Fashion Trust Arabia held a party at Claridge’s Hotel in London on Monday to celebrate its cohort of winners for 2023.
Swedish-born Somali model Ikram Abdi attended the event alongside US Mexican actress Salma Hayek and the prize-winning designers.
Ikram Abdi attended the event in London. (Getty Images)
The organization announced the seven winners of the Fashion Trust Arabia Prize in December.
The usually star-studded awards ceremony was cancelled due to the “ongoing and deeply distressing humanitarian crisis in Palestine,” but a two-day virtual deliberation session was held to find the winners last year.
Womenswear designer Amir Al-Kasm and Renaissance founder Cynthia Merhej jointly won the evening wear category.
The finalists were selected by a panel that included Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and fashion writer Tania Fares, who founded the trust in 2018.
(L to R) Adam Alaoui Elyasse, Lily Max, Omar Taha, Fashion Trust Arabia Co-Founder and Co-Chair Tania Fares, Cynthia Merhej, Ahmed Amer, Katarina Tarazi and Sarah Hermez attend the Fashion Trust Arabia dinner in London. (Getty Images)
Other winners were Lebanon-based designer Ahmed Amer in the ready-to-wear category, British-Lebanese designer Katarina Tarazi in the jewelry category, and design duo of eyewear label A Better Feeling Omar Taha and Lily Max for accessories.
Menswear designer Adam Elyasse took home the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent award and Nigerian designer Adeju Thompson, founder of Lagos Space Programme, was awarded the Guest Country Award.
The sixth edition of Fashion Trust Arabia awards ceremony is set to take place in Marrakech, Morocco, as part of the Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture.
The event will take place in October, organizers announced on Instagram in April.
“In line with our ongoing dedication to diversity and inclusivity, we’ve selected the lively city of Marrakech as our hosting location,” the statement read. “The FTA Prize 2024 will extend invitations to talents worldwide, as we explore and showcase the diverse cultural heritage of Morocco.
“At the heart of our mission we have consistently championed creative communities across the Arab World and this year is no different,” the statement added.
Fashion Trust Arabia is a non-profit organization that provides financial support, guidance and mentorship to emerging designers from across the Middle East and North Africa region.
The event is known for attracting industry heavyweights from around the world, with the 2022 ceremony hosting the likes of Bella Hadid, Naomi Campbell, Karolina Kourkova, Valentino’s creative director Pierpaolo Picciolini, British models Jourdan Dunn and Poppy Delevingne, former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo, British actress Jodie Turner-Smith, US model Jasmine Tookes and US Somali model Halima Aden.
