MIDDLE EAST. Qatar Duty Free has signed as Lead Diamond Sponsor of Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA), a non-profit initiative that provides financial support, guidance, mentorship, and global recognition to emerging fashion designers and talents in the MENA region.
The FTA Gala Dinner and Award Ceremony will take place on 26 October at the National Museum of Qatar; a vibrant space where diverse communities can come together to discover Qatar’s rich heritage and culture.
H.H. Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser, Honorary Chair of FTA; and H.E. Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani and Tania Fares, Co-chairs of FTA, will be among the attendees. They will be joined by an international jury of fashion leaders, designers and celebrities.
Qatar Duty Free Vice President Thabet Musleh, said: “We are very proud to be a Lead Diamond Sponsor of an influential organisation like Fashion Trust Arabia. This partnership is an opportunity to bring attention to emerging designers and artists in the MENA region.
“As a prominent player in the fashion industry, we are proud to support an initiative that sheds light on the astonishing depth of talents among designers and fashion artists in the Arab world. Through our support of FTA, we want to prove to the world that Arab designers are present and can be enormously impactful to the fashion industry.”
Qatar Duty Free will offer reusable tote bags designed by Lebanese fashion designer Zuhair Murad. The bags were produced in collaboration with Fashion Trust Arabia and Bags of Ethics to reduce the impact of disposable plastic bags and promote the usage of sustainable, reusable bags.
In addition, profits from the sale of Murad’s sustainable bags will be donated to Fashion Trust Arabia’s initiative to promote and support fashion designers and emerging talents from the MENA region.
Fashion Trust Arabia Co-Founder Tania Fares, said: “We are honoured to have Qatar Duty Free as the Diamond Sponsor for the FTA Prize this year; their support is truly invaluable to the designers who are taking part in this edition.”
This year, the FTA jury panel will choose five winners out of 24 finalists. The categories include: Evening Wear, Ready-to-Wear, Accessories (Shoes/Bags), and Jewelry (Fine & Fashion Jewellery), and the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award (Arab Fashion Design Graduate).
The jury panel includes: Murad, Jordanian- Romanian fashion designer and shoemaker Amina Muaddi, Tiffany & Co Creative Director Ruba Abu-Nimah, fashion designer and creator of Yoon Ambush,Yoon Ahn, Pucci Creative Director Camille Miceli and more.
Each winner will receive a grant of up to US$200,000 and a year of business mentorship and training relating to sustainable practices. The winners will be announced at the FTA Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony.
