“It all started pretty naturally. I’d design clothes for my family, and seeing how those pieces made them feel gave me a joy I couldn’t ignore,” says Yasmin Mansour, the 2024 Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) Prize winner in the Eveningwear category.
Since launching her brand in 2013, one of Qatar’s first luxury womenswear labels, Mansour has built a reputation for her masterful manipulation of fabrics. What began as a made-to-order business soon evolved into something more experimental and sustainable. Inspired by the landscapes around her, she developed a signature technique of layering leftover fabrics, transforming remnants into one-of-a-kind pieces. Her signature fabric-layering technique was recently showcased at a Paris Couture Week dinner hosted by M7 to celebrate the most recent Fashion Trust Arabia Prize winner.
Below, we caught up with Yasmin Mansour to talk about the creative duality of Doha and Paris, her love for cinematic storytelling, and how she turns bold dreams into wearable reality.
Doha and Paris are two very different creative landscapes, how does each city influence you?
Yasmin Mansour: Doha is home. I’ve watched it transform from a quiet, modest city into a cultural hub filled with art, design, and international influences. It’s a place that pushes me to dream bigger while keeping me connected to tradition. Paris, on the other hand, is my creative escape. Walking its streets is like wandering through an open-air museum—there’s inspiration in every detail, from architecture to fashion craftsmanship. The contrast between these two cities keeps me creatively balanced and constantly evolving.
Your designs are deeply influenced by art, architecture, and dreams. Can you describe your creative process from concept to final piece?
Yasmin Mansour: My process always starts with a feeling or a concept that sparks curiosity. From there, I develop it into a story, translating it through textures, silhouettes, and colors. Architecture often plays a major role, guiding the structure and form of my designs. During the pandemic, I began experimenting with layering leftover fabrics, which became central to my process. It’s about creating pieces that feel multidimensional, meaningful, and sustainable.
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How do your cinematic and photography influences shape your approach to fashion design?
Yasmin Mansour: Cinema and photography have always fascinated me because they capture stories through visuals. I approach fashion the same way—each piece should evoke emotion and tell a story. I think about how a garment will move, how it frames the body, and how it feels like part of a narrative. My aim is for people to experience that cinematic magic when they wear my designs. You’ve mentioned that design has no rules.
How do you balance creative freedom with the technical aspects of fashion construction?
Yasmin Mansour: Creative freedom is essential, but technical skill turns ideas into wearable art. I thrive on that balance—attention to detail is everything, whether it’s hand-pleating, embroidery, or fabric layering. For me, it’s about pushing boundaries while staying true to the craftsmanship that ensures each piece is beautifully executed.
You draw inspiration from figures like Oscar Niemeyer, Jean-Michel Frank, and Elsa Schiaparelli. How do their philosophies translate into your designs?
Yasmin Mansour: Niemeyer’s fluid, organic forms remind me to think outside the box when it comes to structure. Frank’s minimalist elegance influences my approach to simplicity and refinement, while Schiaparelli’s daring creativity inspires me to embrace boldness and storytelling. Their philosophies remind me that design is about creating emotion and pushing boundaries.
Your designs feel like wearable dreams, what’s the wildest dream that’s made its way into your work?
Yasmin Mansour: One of the wildest dreams was inspired by the idea of transforming remnants from past collections into something new and ethereal. The result was a collection where every piece told a story through layers and textures—a true dream turned into reality.
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If you could step into the world of any film and design for its characters, which lm would it be and why?
Yasmin Mansour: ‘In the Mood for Love’ by Wong Kar-wai, without a doubt. It’s visually breathtaking and carries this beautiful, melancholic intensity. I’d love to create designs that capture that same timeless elegance, with a contemporary twist that honors the lm’s mood and characters.
Your influences range from Niemeyer to Schiaparelli. If you could have dinner with one of them, who would it be, and what would you ask?
Yasmin Mansour: I would choose Elsa Schiaparelli. I’d ask her how she maintained such a fearless approach to design and what inspired her to consistently push creative boundaries.
You say design has no rules. What’s one rule in fashion you’d love to break forever?
Yasmin Mansour: The idea that luxury has to be wasteful. I want to prove that sustainability and couture can coexist beautifully.
Luxury and sustainability don’t always go hand in hand, how do you make the two work together without compromise?
Yasmin Mansour: For me, sustainability isn’t a compromise—it’s a source of creativity. My layering technique was born from upcycling discarded fabrics. It not only reduces waste but also gives each piece depth and meaning. That’s true luxury: craftsmanship with a conscience.
If a young designer walked up to you and said, “I want to do what you do,” what’s the first thing you’d tell them?
Yasmin Mansour: I’d tell them to stay true to their vision and be ridiculously patient. Fashion is a marathon, not a sprint. Authenticity is your greatest asset, and challenges are just opportunities to grow.
What’s a perfect day like for you?
Yasmin Mansour: A day where I can completely disconnect—no emails, no messages, no deadlines. Just me indulging in simple pleasures.
Morning person or night owl, when do your best ideas come to life?
Yasmin Mansour: Denitely a morning person. There’s something about the quiet, fresh energy of the early hours that gets my creativity owing.
What’s a guilty pleasure, fashion-related or not—that you absolutely love?
Yasmin Mansour: Binge-watching old Hollywood films. The costumes, the storytelling—it’s endlessly inspiring.
What’s one habit or routine that keeps you grounded in the chaos of the fashion world?
Yasmin Mansour: Meditation and journaling. Taking even just ten minutes to clear my mind makes a huge difference.
If you could have a conversation with your younger self when you were first starting out, what’s the one piece of advice you’d give?
Yasmin Mansour: I’d tell her to trust the process and not be afraid to take risks. Everything falls into place when you stay true to your vision.
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