The fashion industry in the MENA region is gearing up for one of its most anticipated moments of the year, as Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) announces the finalists for its 2025 Awards. The organization continues its mission of spotlighting emerging talent from across the Middle East and North Africa, providing designers with a global platform to launch their creative visions.

Since its launch in 2018 under the patronage of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, and led by HE Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani and Tania Fares. the non-profit has proven to be far more than just an awards program. FTA is a pioneering initiative that opens doors for promising designers in the MENA region, supporting them with financial grants and mentorship from world-class industry experts, setting them on a path toward international recognition.

With this year’s announcement, FTA reaffirms its commitment to empowering designers ready to enter global markets, strengthening the region’s presence on the international fashion map. The 2025 finalist list not only introduces fresh names to the fashion world but also underscores FTA’s vision of positioning the region as a launchpad for a new wave of designers who carry their heritage with a contemporary spirit. Each edition continues to reinforce FTA’s role as a true bridge connecting local creativity with global attention.

Categories and Finalists

The awards for this year are distributed across six key categories, reflecting the diversity of the regional fashion landscape:

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 (ONOR _ United Arab Emirates)

Accessories: Leila Roukni (TALEL _ Morocco), Duha Bukadi (DUHA _Tunis), Sharifa Alsulaiti & Altaf Almudhayan (THUNA – Kuwait)

Jewelry: Patrick Boghossian (Patrick Boghossian Jewellery – Lebanon), Farah Radwan (FYR JEWELRY – Egypt), Clara Chehab (Clara Chehab Fine jewelry – Lebanon)

Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award: Alaa Alaradi (Bahrain), Ayham Hassan (Palestine), Fatma Elshabbi (Libya)

Fashion Tech: Assaad Awad (AWAD – Lebanon), Zahia Albakri (Zahya – Jordan), Fatema & Dalal Alkhaja (TOUCHLESS – Bahrain)

Guest Country: India

Continuing its tradition of adding a global dimension to each edition, FTA has selected India as this year’s Guest Country. Three Indian designers, Kartik Kumra (Kartik Research – India), Ankur Verma (TIL – India), Akhil Nagpal (AKHL – India), will compete for a dedicated Guest Country Award. This initiative opens the door for rich cultural exchange and emphasizes FTA’s commitment to building bridges between the MENA region and the world.

The Prizes

The FTA Awards are far more than titles presented at a glamorous ceremony. Winners receive financial grants ranging from $100,000 to $200,000 (with $50,000 allocated for the Debut Talent category). In addition to financial support, winners gain exclusive opportunities: their collections will be showcased at leading retailers such as Harrods and Ounass, and they will benefit from intensive mentorship programs with The Bicester Collection and the British Fashion Council. Even the prestigious London house Huntsman will welcome the Ready-to-Wear category winner for a unique internship experience.

The next milestone will take place in Doha on November 22, 2025, where the finalists will present their collections to the FTA Jury. The evening will culminate with the announcement of the seven winners, celebrating creativity and excellence with leading figures from the regional and global fashion industries.