In just a year, Fashion Trust Arabia has already cemented its position as the Middle East’s biggest fashion award. For a long time the region lacked industry infrastructure and FTA has put it back in place.
With the awards show set to take place March 2020, anticipation is building up. Major announcements have just been made.
Since its launch last year, FTA has brought on board the fashion industry’s biggest names as judges, and the list is growing even bigger. This year’s program sees major additions to the organisation’s advisory board. Legendary fashion critic Tim Blanks joins the roster alongside MILLE founder Sofia Guellaty, Dazed Media CEO and founder Jefferson Hack, Colette founder and creative director Sarah Andelman, and Matchesfashion’s Natalie Kingham.
They join an already-impressive FTA jury, among them Zuhair Murad, Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing, Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli, Haider Ackermann, Vogue Italia’s Sara Sozzani Maino, model and muse Farida Khelfa, Diane von Furstenberg, Carla Bruni, Net-a-Porter’s Natalie Massenet, Aquazzura’s Edgardo Osorio, and none other than supermodel Imaan Hammam.
Not only that, but this year sees a new award put in place. In honour of the late Franca Sozzani and her long-time relationship with the region (Sozzani kick started the Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience in 2014, a two-day fashion focused event that saw the biggest fashion houses bring their collections to the gulf city) an award, named the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award will place a focus on recent graduates, helping them kick start their careers.
Whilst FTA’s efforts are lauded by everyone in the region, its founder, Tania Fares made sure to put the focus back on Arab designers: “I’m most excited about discovering new designers” she says in a statement. “It’s time for ambitious, bright talents from the region to have their voices heard – and I’m thrilled that Fashion Trust Arabia can shine a light on talent from the Arab world.”
