PASHION Summer '20 Special issue

pashion profile
and the FTA 2020
WINNERS ARE
What should have been the second much anticipated
annual FTA Prize Awards Ceremony back end of March
was turned into a new digital judging process last April,
as a result of the outbreak of Covid-19. Nevertheless
this year’s FTA jury comprised some of the fashion
industry’s leading figures including Alber Elbaz, Christian
Louboutin, Giambattista Valli, Elie Saab and Oliver
Rousteing, who selected 5 winners for the categories
Ready-to-Wear, Evening-wear, Accessories (Shoes &
Handbags), Jewellery, and the new Franca Sozzani
Debut Talent Award introduced this year. Thanks to
the vision and dedication of the Fashion Trust Arabia
founders and board the FTA award was able to draw
over 800 applicants from 13 Arab countries and award
winners from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and
Sudan.
And the winners are:
Omer Asim, (Sudan), Ready-to-Wear
Ammanii, (Egypt), Jewellery
Andrea Wazen, (Lebanon), Accessories
Yousef Akbar, (Saudi Arabia) Evening-wear
Zeid Hijazi, (Jordan), Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award
Each winner took home a financial support of up
to $200,000, and will benefit from an extensive
mentorship program with key FTA partners. This includes
a partnership with retailer MATCHESFASHION.COM,
which will be stocking exclusively on its website the
ss’21 collections of all FTA 2020 winners in addition to
providing business mentorship. “What is really inspiring
and special about this year’s Awards is how much they
highlight the diversity of talent that the MENA region
holds. We had the pleasure of meeting such inspiring
individuals from 13 Arab countries who, even in the
most testing of times, showed their drive, passion and
creativity. It was a truly hard decision for our judges
to choose just five winners from the list of talented
finalists, especially as each and every one of the
designers work tirelessly in their respective countries to
preserve their culture through design.” FTA Co-Founder
Tania Fares Alongside its support for the 2020 Award
winners, FTA is also running an emergency COVID-19
fund through the social campaign #StandWithCreatives.
which has been an instrumental tool in spreading
awareness and recognition of MENA region talent.
The #StandWithCreatives fund is available to MENA
designers producing in the region, more information can
be found by visiting www.fashiontrustarabia.com.
50 www.pashionmagazine.com
Ammanii
Andrea Wazen