It’s that time of year again: One of the region’s most famed celebrations of fashion is finally making its way back to Doha, Qatar, for its annual decoration and championing of the Arab World’s next generation of trailblazing creatives. Now in its fifth edition, Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) is gearing up towards its next hotly-anticipated FTA Awards ceremony taking place next week on Oct. 26.
Initially launched in 2018 under the patronage of HH Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser to provide financial support, guidance, and mentorship to emerging designers in the Middle East and North Africa, in its few years of existence, the non-profit organization has developed into a life-changing platform for up-and-coming creatives.
This year’s cohort of finalists is made up of 24 talents, hailing from across the region, who are all vying to get their hands on the much-coveted prizes at the 2022 FTA Awards. Lucky winners will see their designs and businesses sponsored by a spectrum of revered brands and institutions, including MATCHESFASHION, which will mentor winners and carry their collections on their e-commerce platform. Harrods will also mentor the eveningwear category winner and carry their collection in-store; Bisceter Village will offer a bespoke mentorship to each winner; Maison De Mode will offer winners a mentorship on sustainability; and Maison Pyramide will provide winners with showroom representation during Paris Fashion Week as well as PR consultancy.
The ceremony will also feature a headline music performer presented by Miu Miu, who will also be in charge of after-party entertainment following the ceremony.
As per usual, the much-sought-after competition has called up on some of the industry’s heavyweights to bring their valuable insight on board and select winners, across five womenswear-focused categories (eveningwear, ready-to-wear, accessories, and jewelry). The panel of judges will also be responsible for choosing the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award. Featuring the likes of Lebanese-Romanian shoe designer Amina Muaddi, Balmain’s Creative Director Olivier Rousteing, Remo Ruffini, CEO of Moncler, and Charaf Tajer, head of Casablanca, read on for the full list of judges of the 2022 Fashion Trust Arabia Prize.
Ruba Abu-Nimah – Creative Director, Tiffany & Co.
Yoon Ahn – Fashion Designer, Yoon Ambush
Imran Amed – Founder & Chief Executive of The Business of Fashion
Gherardo Felloni – Creative Director, Roger Vivier
Fernando Garcia & Laura Kim – Creative Directors, Oscar de la Renta
Guram Gvasalia – Creative Director, Vetements
Alex Israel – Multimedia Artist and Eyewear Designer
Michèle Lamy – Co-Founding Partner & Managing Director of Art/Furniture Owenscorp.
Camille Miceli – Creative Director, Pucci
Amina Muaddi – Shoe Designer
Zuhair Murad – Fashion Designer
Pierpaolo Piccioli – Creative Director, Valentino
Rachid Mohamed Rachid – Chairman, Balmain and Valentino
Carine Roitfeld – Founder and Director of CR Fashion Book/CR Men and Founder of Carine Roitfeld Paris
Samuel Ross – Fashion Designer & Creative Director, A-COLD-WALL
Olivier Rousteing – Creative Director, Balmain
Remo Ruffini – CEO, Moncler
Lorraine Schwartz – Jewelry Designer
Charaf Tajer – Creative Director, Casablanca
Arnaud Vaillant & Sébastien Meyer – Creative Directors, Coperni
Iris Van Herpen – Fashion Designer
Erin Walsh – Stylist
