The finalists for the 2021 Fashion Trust Arabia Awards represent a wealth of talent from across the Mena region, bringing together emerging designers from Lebanon, Egypt, the UAE and more.
From a record number of applicants, 24 shortlisted names were announced on Monday for the annual awards, which celebrate the categories of ready-to-wear, eveningwear, jewellery, accessories and debut talent.
In the wake of 2020's myriad difficulties – from the pandemic to the blast in Beirut – even well-established fashion brands around the world have struggled to adjust, making support for rising talent even more important at this time.
"We received a record number of more than 800 applications and had an immense pool of talent this year," said Fashion Trust Arabia's co-founder and co-chair Tania Fares.
“We feel that designers and businesses need assistance now more than ever. I wish all the amazing finalists the best of luck, they are all exceptionally talented.”
The winners of each of the five categories will be announced on Thursday, March 25, in Doha, in a physical ceremony that will also be live-streamed.
Founded in 2018 as a non-profit organisation to nurture and support emerging talent in the region, Fashion Trust Arabia aims to shine a spotlight on the many talented creators across the region.
To this end, each year it tasks an advisory board with selecting 24 finalists from hundreds of applicants.
This year's board includes Tunisian actress Afef Jnifen, Chloe designer Gabriela Hearst, fashion journalist Hamish Bowles, stylist Ib Kamara, French Vogue fashion director Aleksandra Woroniecka, Colombian designer Johanna Ortiz and Lebanese creative director Roger Moukarzel.
Meet the 2021 FTA Awards nominees
Ready-to-Wear Award
This category includes eponymous Lebanese brand Lama Jouni, which launched in 2013 and is known for its sleek tailoring and strong contemporary vision. The other nominees are Cynthia Merhej from Lebanon, Maram Aboul Enein from Egypt and Iraqi brand Zaid Affas.
Eveningwear Award
One nominee is the Moroccan designer Mohamed Benchellal, whose modern take on eveningwear has captured the attention of fashion magazines around the world, as well as bagged him the top award at the 2020 Vogue Fashion Prize.
The other names up for the FTA award are Eli Mizrahi from Lebanon, Harith Hashim from Iraq and Laith Maalouf from Jordan.
Jewellery Award
Alia bin Omair is one of the names nominated in this category. The brand was founded in the UAE in 2016, and bin Omair uses elements from the country and transforms them into precious jewellery, such as her Levonah necklace, cast from frankincense.
The other names given a nod in the category are Azza Skhiri Bouchamaoui from Tunisia, Julien Riad Sahyoun from Morocco, and Tania and Dima Nawbar from Lebanon.
Accessories Award
Although only launched in 2019, Saudi Arabian label Dania Shinkar has been nominated for the FTA Awards. Using Italian know-how to create its eye-catching and eccentric designs, the eponymous label offers an antidote to mass production.
Also nominated in the category are Bilal Fellah from Algeria, Kuwaiti designer Haya Al AbdulKareem and Zakaria Bendriouich from Morocco.
Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award
Iraq's Malik Thomas Jalil Kydd has been nominated for the category named in honour of the late Italian Vogue editor. Leaning on his mixed British-Iraqi upbringing, the designer creates gender-fluid daywear, often using traditional motifs.
The other names shortlisted in this category are AbdelGader El Tayeb Al Sadig from Sudan, Mina Tahir by Mintallah Tahir from Egypt and Roudha by Roudha Ahmed Almazroei from Qatar.
In addition, there is a special sixth category that this year will highlight Colombian designers.
The first initiative of its kind in the region, winners in each category will receive a grant of up to $200,000 and a one-year partnership with Matches Fashion, which includes showcasing their collections across many platforms, plus mentoring from industry experts.
England's all-time record goalscorers:
Wayne Rooney 53
Bobby Charlton 49
Gary Lineker 48
Jimmy Greaves 44
Michael Owen 40
Tom Finney 30
Nat Lofthouse 30
Alan Shearer 30
Viv Woodward 29
Frank Lampard 29
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
OTHER IPL BOWLING RECORDS
Best bowling figures: 6-14 – Sohail Tanvir (for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in 2008)
Best average: 16.36 – Andrew Tye
Best economy rate: 6.53 – Sunil Narine
Best strike-rate: 12.83 – Andrew Tye
Best strike-rate in an innings: 1.50 – Suresh Raina (for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2011)
Most runs conceded in an innings: 70 – Basil Thampi (for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018)
Most hat-tricks: 3 – Amit Mishra
Most dot-balls: 1,128 – Harbhajan Singh
Most maiden overs bowled: 14 – Praveen Kumar
Most four-wicket hauls: 6 – Sunil Narine
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
The biog
Name: Fareed Lafta
Age: 40
From: Baghdad, Iraq
Mission: Promote world peace
Favourite poet: Al Mutanabbi
Role models: His parents
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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RACE CARD
6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200
7.05pm Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 1,400m
9.25pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 2,000m
The National selections:
6.30pm Underwriter
7.05pm Rayig
7.40pm Torno Subito
8.15pm Talento Puma
8.50pm Etisalat
9.25pm Gundogdu
Huroob Ezterari
Director: Ahmed Moussa
Starring: Ahmed El Sakka, Amir Karara, Ghada Adel and Moustafa Mohammed
Three stars
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
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Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The design
The protective shell is covered in solar panels to make use of light and produce energy. This will drastically reduce energy loss.
More than 80 per cent of the energy consumed by the French pavilion will be produced by the sun.
The architecture will control light sources to provide a highly insulated and airtight building.
The forecourt is protected from the sun and the plants will refresh the inner spaces.
A micro water treatment plant will recycle used water to supply the irrigation for the plants and to flush the toilets. This will reduce the pavilion’s need for fresh water by 30 per cent.
Energy-saving equipment will be used for all lighting and projections.
Beyond its use for the expo, the pavilion will be easy to dismantle and reuse the material.
Some elements of the metal frame can be prefabricated in a factory.
From architects to sound technicians and construction companies, a group of experts from 10 companies have created the pavilion.
Work will begin in May; the first stone will be laid in Dubai in the second quarter of 2019.
Construction of the pavilion will take 17 months from May 2019 to September 2020.
Results
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
