The spotlight is back on the Middle East’s most anticipated fashion stage. Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA), the non-profit dedicated to championing emerging designers from the MENA region, has unveiled the finalists for its 2025 Awards, and the lineup is nothing short of electrifying.
Every year, the FTA Advisory Board combs through countless applications to handpick the most visionary talents. For 2025, eighteen designers across Ready-to-Wear, Evening Wear, Accessories, Jewelry, Fashion Tech, and the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award categories have made the cut. Add to that three guest finalists from India — this year’s honored partner country — and the competition just got a global edge.
The grand finale? On November 22nd, 2025, the designers will present their creations in Doha before the esteemed FTA Jury, with seven winners crowned during an unforgettable awards ceremony.
The 2025 Finalists at a Glance
- Ready-to-Wear: Shahd AlShehail (ABADIA, Saudi Arabia), Youssef Drissi (LATE FOR WORK, Morocco), Iman Coccellato (COCCELLATO, Tunis)
- Evening Wear: Ziyad Albuainain (ZIYAD BUAINAIN, Saudi Arabia), Dana Almulla (DANA ALMULLA, Qatar), Sharifa Alsharif Alhashemi (ONORI, UAE)
- Accessories: Leila Roukni (TALEL, Morocco), Duha Bukadi (DUHA, Tunis), Sharifa Alsulaiti & Altaf Almudhayan (THUNA, Kuwait)
- Jewelry: Patrick Boghossian (Lebanon), Farah Radwan (FYR JEWELRY, Egypt), Clara Chehab (Lebanon)
- Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award: Alaa Alaradi (Bahrain), Ayham Hassan (Palestine), Fatma Elshabbi (Libya)
- Fashion Tech: Assaad Awad (Lebanon), Zahia Albakri (Jordan), Fatema & Dalal Alkhaja (TOUCHLESS, Bahrain)
Guest Country Spotlight: India
In partnership with the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, India takes the guest country seat for 2025. Designers Kartik Kumra (Kartik Research), Ankur Verma (TIL), and Akhil Nagpal (AKHL) will bring their unique creative DNA to the stage, reminding us that fashion’s language is universal.
What’s at Stake?
Beyond prestige, the winners will gain more than just a trophy:
- Financial grants ranging from $50,000 to $200,000.
- Retail opportunities with Harrods and Ounass.
- Mentorships and internships with The Bicester Collection, Huntsman in London, and the British Fashion Council.
- A two-day bespoke mentorship program in London, tailored to fuel their global trajectory.
Fashion Trust Arabia isn’t just giving emerging designers a platform, it’s weaving their futures into the fabric of the international fashion scene. With creativity, culture, and craftsmanship at its core, the 2025 Awards promise to be a milestone moment in shaping the region’s next generation of fashion leaders.
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