Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA), the leading non-profit organization that supports emerging designers from the Middle East and North Africa, has announced the winners of its fifth edition of the FTA Prize. The FTA Prize is one of the most coveted awards in the fashion industry, as it provides the winners with financial grants, mentorships, retail opportunities, and global exposure.

Due to the “ongoing and deeply distressing humanitarian crisis in Palestine,” the FTA had to cancel its annual awards ceremony that was planned to take place in Qatar this year. Instead, they organized a two-day online deliberation session, where the 24 finalists across six categories presented their collections to a distinguished panel of judges and advisory board members. The panel included co-chairs HE Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani, the chairperson of Qatar Museums, and Tania Fares, the founder of FTA and co-chair of the British Fashion Council’s Fashion Trust. Among the judges and advisors were some of the most influential names in the fashion world, such as Olivier Rousteing, Giambattista Valli, Zuhair Murad, Amina Muaddi, Imran Amed, and many more.

After careful evaluation and discussion, the FTA Jury selected the seven winners of the FTA Prize 2023. They are:

  • Amir Al Kasm (Evening Wear)
  • Cynthia Merhej (Evening Wear)
  • Ahmed Amer (Ready-to-Wear)
  • Katarina Tarazi (Jewelry)
  • Omar Taha and Lily Max (Accessories)
  • Adam Elyasse (Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award)
  • Adeju Thompson (Guest Country Award Nigeria – in partnership with EMERGE Initiative)

The winners will receive a financial grant of $100,000 to $200,000, with $25,000 for the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award. They will also benefit from a one-year mentorship program by MATCHES, who will carry their collections for one season. Harrods will carry the Evening-Wear category winner’s collection. In addition, FTA offers the winners other opportunities, such as mentorships with The Bicester Collection and Maison De Mode, showroom representation and PR consultancy by Maison Pyramide, and an internship with Huntsman for the Ready-to-Wear category winner.

FTA is proud to support and empower these designers, and to promote the diversity and richness of the fashion scene in the Middle East and North Africa.