Fez — Two Moroccan creatives took home top honors in Paris as the Institut du Monde Arabe (IMA) announced the winners of its first Arab World Fashion Prize.
Accessory designer Lina Kouhaili won in the Talent Accessories category, while Sophia Kacimi, founder of Zoubida, earned the Creative Entrepreneurship award.
Kouhaili’s work plays with form and function. She designs “objects to wear” such as sculptural bags, pocket objects, and table jewelry that can move from fashion accessory to a functional piece in the same day.
Her practice relies on close collaboration with artisans and a “made in nomad” approach that celebrates movement and craft.
Kacimi’s brand Zoubida is a community-driven label rooted in Morocco and built around local production. Pieces are co-created with artisans between Fez and Rabat, with an emphasis on intentional crafting, joy, and longevity.
The project reflects her years in luxury fashion and her return to working at home with a human, sustainable model.
The prize also celebrated other talents from the region and its diaspora.
Ahmed Hassan of Saudi Arabia won Talent Émergent, Abdel Djalel Chib of Algeria won Talent Innovant, Oubadah Nouktah of Syria shared the Talent Accessoires spotlight, and Mouthana Alhaj Ali of Syria received the Jury Prize.
Launched this year, the Arab World Fashion Prize aims to spotlight designers who blend creativity, craftsmanship, and new ways of working.
For Morocco, the double win shows the strength of its design scene, from boundary-pushing accessories to brand models that center artisans and local know-how.
