(MENAFN- Gulf Times) At least four fashion designers in the Arab world will get grant, mentorship, and global exposure from Fashion Trust Arabia's (FTA) new prize initiative, FTA curator Danya Taha has said.
Qatar Foundation Chairperson Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, is the honorary chair of FTA, a non-profit initiative founded and co-chaired by Fashion Trust, UK, founder Tania Fares. It is also co-chaired by Qatar Museums Chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint
Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.
'Winners will receive a substantial amount of funding, a grant for the designers and they will be mentored by matchesfashion.com (official FTA partner), Taha told reporters yesterday at Shop Qatar's Design District, located at the Doha Exhibition and
Convention Centre.
'They will also get international recognition, it's everything the designers need to take their business to the next level and to become globally recognised, she said, adding that the annual award aims to support designers in the Mena region.
Taha noted that applications have opened in September 2018 and now runs until January 24. Some 20 finalists, who are scheduled to be selected this month, will join FTA's inaugural event in Doha on March 27-28.
The FTA award will also witness internationally-renowned personalities in the fashion industry judging and selecting the winning designers. These include Diane von Furstenberg, Pierpaolo Piccioli, Olivier Rousteing, Sara Maino, Natalia Vaganova, and Laura Brown, among others.
Taha said FTA's executive committee is comprised of 15 members, including Nadine Labaki and Reem Acra, made up of Arab business leaders who will also be supporting the winning designers.
'It is time that designers in the region got such an opportunity, something like FTA, a first of its kind initiative in the Arab world. Designers feel it is a dream, it is good to be true and they are so overwhelmed and happy so we are so happy that we are providing that as well, she stressed.
Citing the growing fashion industry in Qatar, Taha said, 'There is definitely a light directed to the fashion scene in the Arab world globally.
'I think the west and Europe are looking or tapping into the design and fashion in the Arab world because we are very international and diverse, she added.
Taha said FTA is also collaborating with Shop Qatar, especially its Design District, a platform which has 'a wealth of talent that we want to tap into.
'We want to see the different designers and how they are all diverse and special in their own way, she said. 'I am very happy that we collaborate because we got meet great talents and a number of designers here who could be great applicant for FTA, and hopefully they becomewinners.
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