Calling all Arab designers, this one’s for you. Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) has officially opened applications for its 8th edition, and if you’ve been waiting for a sign to level up your brand, this might be it.
The non-profit organization founded by Tania Fares alongside Qatar’s HE Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani has rapidly become one of the most important platforms for emerging designers from the MENA region. Founded with the goal of backing Arab talent with real support, the annual FTA Prize offers financial grants, long-term mentorship, and access to some of the most influential figures in global fashion.
For its 2026 cycle, FTA is accepting applications across six categories: Evening Wear, Ready-to-Wear, Accessories, Jewelry (Fine and Fashion), Debut Talent (open to graduates from 2024, 2025, and 2026), and the Fashion Tech Award. The focus remains the same: spotlighting designers from the MENA region who are pushing their craft forward, whether through design, innovation, or new ways of thinking about fashion itself.
If you’ve followed FTA over the years, you already know the kind of impact it can have. Past editions have helped launch designers onto international stages, placing them in rooms they may not have otherwise accessed, from Paris showrooms to mentorships with industry heavyweights.
Winners of FTA’s most recent edition include Moroccan designer Youssef Drissi of Late for Work, Saudi-based Ziyad AlBuainain, Moroccan accessories talent Leila Roukni, Egyptian jewelry creator Farah Radwan, Bahraini designer Alaa Alaradi, Bahraini sisters Fatema and Dalal AlKhaja, and Indian designer Kartik Kumr. Winners walked away with financial grants of up to $200,000, retail placements with tastemaker retailers like Harrods and Ounass, and a full year of mentorship with industry pros.
Those who wish to apply can visit www.fashiontrustarabia.com.