Fashion Trust Arabia names 2025 prize winners in Qatar
Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA)_ the non-profit organisation supporting emerging design talent from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)_ awarded the winners of its seventh annual FTA Prize at the National Museum of Qatar in Doha_ celebrating designers across the region in ready-to-wear_ evening wear_ accessories and jewellery.
Moroccan designer Youssef Drisi_ who founded his label Late For Work in 2020 after graduating from Casa Moda Academy in Casablanca_ scooped the ready-to-wear prize_ beating off tough competition from Saudi Arabia-based Shahd AlShehail and Iman Coccellato from Tunisia.
Saudi-based Ziyad Albuainain won the evening wear category_ while the accessories award went to Morocco_s Leila Roukni for her label Talel_ and Paris-based Egyptian Farah Radwan received the jewellery prize for her brand Fyr.
The winning designers in the evening wear_ ready-to-wear_ accessories and jewellery categories will each receive a financial grant between 100_000 and 200_000 US dollars_ depending on the size of their business and yearly turnover_ to support their business development. The winners_ collections will also be carried by FTA's retail partners_ Harrods and Ounass_ for one season_ and each designer will receive a year-long mentorship with The Bicester Collection_ including a two-day program in London in partnership with The Bicester Collection_ Brand x Society_ and the British Fashion Council.
In addition_ this year the FTA has also partnered with luxury conglomerate Kering for the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award_ which was presented to Bahrain-born_ Switzerland-raised designer Alaa Alaradi_ who graduated in 2024 with a master_s degree from HEAD – Geneva. As the winner_ she receives 50_000 US dollars and bespoke mentoring.
Designers from Morocco_ Saudi Arabia_ Egypt_ and Bahrain recognised at the 2025 Fashion Trust Arabia Prize
Other winners included Bahrain-based accessories label Touchless_ founded by sisters Dalal and Fatema Alkhaja_ which won the Fashion Tech Award for embracing 3D printing and eco-conscious techniques to reduce fashion industry waste in its designs. This year_ India was also invited as a guest country_ with designer Kartik Kumra_ founder of New Delhi-based Kartik Research_ presented with the guest country award_ in partnership with the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre.
There were also two honorary awards_ a Lifetime Achievement Award_ which was presented to Miuccia Prada for her “profound impact on style_ culture_ and innovation_” and Lebanese couturier Zuhair Murad was presented with the trailblazer award for his “visionary contribution to fashion and his long-standing support of FTA”.
The winners were selected by a judging panel that included designers Christian Louboutin_ Giambattista Valli_ Amina Muaddi_ Duran Lantink_ creative director of Jean Paul Gaultier_ and Zuhair Murad.
FTA was launched in 2018 under the patronage of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser as honorary chair_ with co-chairs HE Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani and Tania Fares to provide financial awards and world-class industry mentorship for MENA region design talent who are ready for the international market.