In her welcoming speech, Sheikha Mayassa championed the collective resilience region’s designers. “The MENA region has endured one of its most challenging chapters in decades,” she said. “Many of our countries, our people, and our creatives have been tested in ways that defy description. And yet, what continually moves me is the strength of our community, the way our designers keep creating, keep telling our stories, and keep reminding the world of who we are.”
Bathed in a soft pink glow, the museum’s sweeping elliptical planes created a stunning backdrop for the soirée, hosted by Queen Latifah and Egyptian actor Aiman Kaissouni. The seven winners emerged from a pool of 21 finalists, judged by an FTA jury that included Christian Louboutin, Duran Lantink, Giambattista Valli, and Rabih Kayrouz, among others.
The Ready-to-Wear Award went to Moroccan-born Youssef Drissi for his label Late for Work. Rooted in the contradictions of his culture, his collection offered a deconstructed spin on everyday staples, stitched together with thrift-shop irreverence and a streak of rebellion. Shown during Paris Fashion Week in October, his most recent offering drew notice for its clever cut-and-paste wit.
Saudi Arabia–born, London-based Ziyad Al Buainain of Zyiad Buainain claimed the Eveningwear Award with a series of ingenious gowns that shifted shape at the pull of a zip, the release of a bow, or the unfastening of a hook—a sort of high glamour with a secret life.
