fta prize

DEAR FTA APPLICANT,

Fashion Trust Arabia is an annual non-profit organization that aims to provide financial support and business support as well as international recognition to the dynamic fashion designers in the MENA region. Fashion Trust Arabia launched in September 2018 under the patronage of HH Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser as honorary chair and co-chairs HE Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani and Tania Fares. FTA is the only initiative of its kind operating in the Arab world, dedicated to finding and nurturing talented designers.

Applications are open to designers in the below womenswear categories:

• Eveningwear
• Ready-to-Wear (RTW)
• Accessories (Shoes/Bags)
• Jewelry (Fine Jewelry/Fashion Jewelry)
• Debut Talent (MENA Fashion Design Graduates and Students 2020-2022)

For the Evening Wear, Ready-to-Wear, Accessories and Jewelry categories – Applicants must be in business for a minimum of 2 to 10 years. Winners of these categories will receive a financial grant between $100,000 and $200,000 for key areas of business development depending on the size of their business and yearly turnover. Grants are tailored to each winner in-line with their brand objectives. Winners will also receive a personalized one-year mentoring program delivered by FTA’s retail partners and a global network of industry professionals, covering a variety of topics relevant to the business of fashion. FTA’s international collaborating retailers will also stock the collections of the winning designers on their retail platforms.

Debut Talent – the Franca Sozzani Award is a category for applicants who are either studying or who have earned a fashion design degree, in 2021, 2022 or 2023, and are in the process of launching their professional careers. Applicants must be involved in womenswear and menswear are required to submit a newly completed graduate collection via portfolio and images for consideration. The winner will receive a financial grant of $25,000 to help jumpstart their business in addition to a tailored mentorship program from industry figures and partners to assist them in developing their brands.

MENA nationality applicants can either be based in the MENA region or have an office or production facility in the MENA region. Applicants who don’t hold a MENA nationality but have their brand based in the MENA region are also welcome to apply, as they support the region by employing local artisans, sourcing materials and encouraging local production.

Please fill out the below application in the hopes of being awarded the FTA Prize. Also, do enclose your portrait if you happen to have one.

After applications close, the FTA Advisory Board reviews all the applications submitted and selects four finalists from each of FTA Prize’s six categories: Evening Wear, Ready-to-Wear, Accessories, Jewelry, Debut Talent and Guest Country. The 24 finalists will be announced in June 2023. At the end of October, the finalists will be invited to showcase their collections to FTA’s judging panel consisting of 2023 Advisory Board Members and Judges in Doha, Qatar. The judging panel will collectively vote for six winning designers, with one winner for each FTA Prize category. Winners will be announced at The FTA Awards Ceremony which will take place on the same evening in the presence of HH Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser.