The next global fashion star may just come from our side of the world. The Arab Fashion Council (AFC) has announced today the AFC Fashion Fund—a bold new $500,000 biennial commitment designed not to crown a momentary star, but to build a brand with global staying power. And it might just be the most thoughtful—and strategic—fashion fund we’ve seen in years.
If the LVMH Prize is fashion’s equivalent of a golden ticket, the AFC Fashion Fund is more of a long-term investment portfolio. Instead of a lump-sum check and a pat on the back, the winning designer enters a meticulously curated two-year accelerator program that touches every corner of brand-building—from production and PR to e-commerce and intellectual property.
“This is not a prize. It’s an evolution,” said Mohammed Aqra, Chief Strategy Officer at the Arab Fashion Council. And that distinction is key. In addition to boosting visibility, the new fund will also lay the groundwork for creative and commercial success that can actually last.
The fashion world is no stranger to competitions. From the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund to ANDAM and, of course, the LVMH Prize, industry support for emerging designers is well-established. In the Arab region, Fashion Trust Arabia has been one of the most prominent platforms nurturing talent. Now, the AFC Fashion Fund becomes the second major initiative of this scale to emerge from the region—further cementing its role as a rising force in the global fashion conversation.
Case in point: the four fully produced runway seasons, managed by the AFC, which include everything from casting and styling to social amplification. Add to that showroom representation in Paris, direct introductions to global buyers, and a built-in cultural angle through capsule collections for Ramadan and Eid, and you’ve got a strategy that balances global ambition with regional nuance. One of the most compelling aspects? The “Global Collaboration Challenge”—an entire season dedicated to a partnership with an internationally recognized brand.
And while creativity is a given, what truly elevates the AFC’s approach is its business-first backbone. From ongoing mentorship with industry veterans to guidance on pricing, collection planning, and IP protection, the fund sets designers up not just to survive the fashion system, but to master it.
Applications open in June 2025. The first winner will be announced this October. The rest of us? We’ll be watching closely.
