Dubai Design and Fashion Council name prize finalists

Dubai Design and Fashion Council in partnership with Vogue Arabia has named 10 ready-to-wear and accessories finalists for the 2016 Fashion Prize, which was launched last year in association with Farfetch to showcase emerging Middle Eastern design talent.

The second edition saw more than 100 designers from 12 countries across the Arab world applying to the Fashion Prize competition, which will see the winning designers receiving a financial production grant, alongside the opportunity to sell their collections to a global audience exclusively on Farfetch.com, as well as retail pick-up from renowned Farfetch boutique partners Browns in London, Curve in the US, and Al Ostoura in Kuwait. In addition, the price includes mentorship and an advertising campaign to promote the retail launch, which in total represents more than 250,000 dollars in value.

The 10 finalists features 5 ready-to-wear and 5 accessories designers chosen by a selection committee comprising of senior executives from the Dubai Design and Fashion Council, Vogue Arabia, Farfetch, and both the regional and international fashion communities.

The ready-to-wear designers includes Daneh Buahmed, a Saudi designer who launched her first collection in 2011, her label celebrates the 24-hour woman with pieces that can be dressed both up and down, as well as Karoline Lang, a Lebanese designer who gained experience working for Marni and Reem Acra before founding her own label that shows off-schedule in Paris.

The other finalists are: Mira Hayek, Beirut-based, ready-to-wear designer, who interned at the ateliers of Elie Saab and Erdem before being selected by the Starch Foundation to launch her first ready-to-wear collection in 2011; Ayah Tabari of Mochi, where every collection is handcrafted by local artisans using traditional embroidery methods to create contemporary pieces; and Reema Albanna of Reemami, an award-winning UAE-based designer known for her signature architectural and experimental cuts, playful concepts, and hand-illustrated graphics.

2016 DDFC/Vogue Fashion Prize names finalists

There are also 5 accessories designers: Farah Nasri of HKD – Hooked (jewellery), Nathalie Trad (bags), Aya and Mounaz Abdelraouf of Okhtein (bags), Ralph Masri (jewellery) and Rula Galayini (bags).

The prize will be awarded to one ready-to-wear designer and one accessories designer later this year.

Dubai Design and Fashion Council, chief executive, Nez Gebreel, said: “Having witnessed an amazing display of craftsmanship and originality during the inaugural edition of the Fashion Prize, we look forward to elevating a new crop of promising design talent across the region this year.

“I am confident our nominees will contribute to strengthening the region’s authority in the fashion scene globally and I would like to wish them the very best of luck on their exciting journey.”

Farfetch chief marketing officer, Stephanie Horton, added: “Following the success of last year’s winning capsule collection by Hussein Bazaza, we are excited to work with this year’s shortlist of the very best Middle Eastern design talent. Our customers love discovering and shopping truly unique items and we are looking forward to introducing them to these latest one-of-a-kind collections.”

Image: courtesy of Dubai Design and Fashion Council