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Ailyn Agonia
DOHA
Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA), the first Qatar-led initiative of its kind in the Arab world, is putting the spotlight on the wealth of talent in the fashion industry in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Speaking to the local media during the Shop Qatar Design District event at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre on Tuesday, FTA Curator Danya Taha said the unique non-profit initiative offers appropriate mentorship, funding and great opportunities leading to international recognition and the FTA Prize.
FTA is chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and co-chaired by Sheikha al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al Tani, together with Fashion Trust founder Tania Fares.
The initiative will culminate in major fashion events honouring the recipients of the FTA Prize, slated to take place in Doha on March 27 and 28.
“I think, right now there is a light directed at the fashion scene in the Arab world. The West and the Europe are looking at and tapping into design and fashion in the Arab world, because we are very international and diverse. It is high time the designers in the Arab region received such opportunities. With the launch of FTA, the designers feel like they have a dream come true; we are so happy that we can provide such a platform for them as well,” said Taha.
Taha said submission of applications for the FTA Prize was opened in September 2018 and will nominations will continue to be received until January 24. In February, 20 finalists will be selected from among the applicants and invited to the inaugural FTA event in Doha.
“Following which, around four or five winners will be selected by FTA judges’ panel for the grant, mentorship and other opportunities. The impressive roster of judges includes a number of heavyweights in the international fashion industry such as Zuhair Murad, Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing, Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli, Natalia Vodianova, Diane von Furstenberg, Carla Bruni and supermodel Imaan Hammam,” Taha said.
Taha also underlined the important role of the members of the Executive Committee of FTA, including director Nadine Labaki and fashion designer Reem Acra.
The inaugural Shop Qatar Design District is the first collaboration of FTA with the Qatar National Tourism Council.
Taha lauded the initiative to help them discover talent in Qatar. “We wanted to collaborate with Shop Qatar because there is a lot of talent in Qatar that we wanted to tap into. We wanted to see how these designers were diverse and special in their own way. I am very happy I met a number of great designers here who have the potential to become winners of the FTA Prize,” Taha concluded.
DOHA
Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA), the first Qatar-led initiative of its kind in the Arab world, is putting the spotlight on the wealth of talent in the fashion industry in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Speaking to the local media during the Shop Qatar Design District event at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre on Tuesday, FTA Curator Danya Taha said the unique non-profit initiative offers appropriate mentorship, funding and great opportunities leading to international recognition and the FTA Prize.
FTA is chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and co-chaired by Sheikha al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al Tani, together with Fashion Trust founder Tania Fares.
The initiative will culminate in major fashion events honouring the recipients of the FTA Prize, slated to take place in Doha on March 27 and 28.
“I think, right now there is a light directed at the fashion scene in the Arab world. The West and the Europe are looking at and tapping into design and fashion in the Arab world, because we are very international and diverse. It is high time the designers in the Arab region received such opportunities. With the launch of FTA, the designers feel like they have a dream come true; we are so happy that we can provide such a platform for them as well,” said Taha.
Taha said submission of applications for the FTA Prize was opened in September 2018 and will nominations will continue to be received until January 24. In February, 20 finalists will be selected from among the applicants and invited to the inaugural FTA event in Doha.
“Following which, around four or five winners will be selected by FTA judges’ panel for the grant, mentorship and other opportunities. The impressive roster of judges includes a number of heavyweights in the international fashion industry such as Zuhair Murad, Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing, Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli, Natalia Vodianova, Diane von Furstenberg, Carla Bruni and supermodel Imaan Hammam,” Taha said.
Taha also underlined the important role of the members of the Executive Committee of FTA, including director Nadine Labaki and fashion designer Reem Acra.
The inaugural Shop Qatar Design District is the first collaboration of FTA with the Qatar National Tourism Council.
Taha lauded the initiative to help them discover talent in Qatar. “We wanted to collaborate with Shop Qatar because there is a lot of talent in Qatar that we wanted to tap into. We wanted to see how these designers were diverse and special in their own way. I am very happy I met a number of great designers here who have the potential to become winners of the FTA Prize,” Taha concluded.
