Fashion Trust Arabia has officially revealed the star-studded judging panel for the highly anticipated 2020 FTA Awards. The diverse group of over 20 industry experts includes renowned personalities such as Adrian Cheng, Aimee Song, Carine Roitfeld, Christian Louboutin, Elie Saab, Farida Khelfa, Marc Jacobs, Mario Sorrenti, Naomi Campbell, Olivier Rousteing, Pierpaolo Piccioli, Thom Browne, Tory Burch, Yoon Ahn, and Giancarlo Giammetti, among others.
The panel announcement took place at a special event hosted at the Embassy of Qatar in Paris, showcasing the collaborative effort and support of key figures in the fashion world. This initial round of judges is just the beginning, with a second round of industry heavyweights set to be unveiled in February, adding even more talent to the panel.
The final round of the competition will see the judging panel coming together on March 25th at the National Museum of Qatar in Doha. From a pool of hundreds of applicants from the Middle East and North Africa region, 25 finalists will have the opportunity to showcase their collections in various womenswear categories, including evening wear, ready-to-wear, accessories (shoes and bags), and jewelry (fine and fashion jewelry). The winners will be revealed during the awards ceremony later that evening.
Winners of the FTA Awards will not only receive a prestigious accolade but also a financial grant of up to $200,000, a year-long mentorship program from Matchesfashion.com, and specialized guidance on sustainability from Maison de Mode. Additionally, this year’s event will introduce the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award, shining a spotlight on outstanding design talent from recent graduates.
The impressive lineup of judges and the high level of industry support at the FTA Awards, as seen in previous years with icons like Victoria Beckham, Natalie Massenet, Alexander Wang, Diane Von Furstenberg, Antoine Arnault, and Remo Ruffini, underscores the event’s significance in championing emerging designers and fostering creativity in the Middle East and North Africa region.
For more information about Fashion Trust Arabia and the FTA Awards, visit their official website here. Additionally, stay updated on the latest news and developments by following Fashion Trust Arabia on their official Instagram page @fashiontrustarabia.
